Health 12 August 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Doctors Threaten Strike Over Intern Welfare, Issue 14-Day Ultimatum
The Uganda Medical Association (UMA) has given the government a 14-day ultimatum to address the welfare and deployment of medical interns, threatening a nationwide strike. The association demands better pay, timely deployment, and a review of new health policies. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/doctors-give-govt-14-day-ultimatum-over-intern-deployment-welfare-5555992
Doctors across Uganda are on the brink of industrial action following a decisive vote by the Uganda Medical Association (UMA). The UMA has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the government, demanding swift resolution to issues surrounding the deployment and welfare of medical interns.
An extraordinary general assembly, comprising approximately 4,500 doctors from both Uganda and abroad, overwhelmingly supported the motion for industrial action, with 99% of attendees voting in favor. UMA President Dr. Frank Asiimwe confirmed that if the Ministry of Health fails to provide satisfactory written commitments within the stipulated timeframe, doctors nationwide will withdraw their services, excluding emergency and life-saving care.
The association’s demands include a monthly allowance of Shs4 million for each medical intern to cover living expenses, and the immediate deployment of all 2,417 eligible interns to accredited training sites without discrimination. Furthermore, UMA calls for the suspension or withdrawal of the new health training policy for broader consultation and the immediate payment of outstanding allowances owed to medical interns and residents since July 2025.
Beyond the intern crisis, the UMA is advocating for systemic reforms in the health sector. These include increased financing, lifting the ban on health worker recruitment, rectifying salary disparities for associate consultants, and promoting medical officers who have faced career stagnation. The UMA warns that these unresolved systemic issues contribute significantly to burnout, absenteeism, and reduced productivity among medical professionals.
Health Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi acknowledged the welfare concerns but urged graduates to report for duty while consultations are ongoing. He noted that the protesting graduates are not yet officially interns until they sign contracts and report for duty. Meanwhile, opposition lawmakers have countered the minister’s stance, emphasizing the critical reliance of regional referral hospitals on medical interns due to severe staffing shortages.
The UMA has also warned that industrial action could commence sooner than the 14-day notice if the government engages in any form of victimization against interns, such as canceling deployment letters or failing to meet parliamentary commitments.