Health 18 August 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Medical Interns Ordered Back to Training After Allowance Deal
The Uganda Medical Association has directed medical interns to resume their training immediately following government assurances of a Shs1 million monthly allowance. This comes after a dispute over proposed changes to intern remuneration. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/medical-interns-ordered-to-report-for-training-immediately-5562874
Medical interns across Uganda have been instructed to report for their mandatory training without delay. The directive from the Uganda Medical Association (UMA) president, Dr. Frank Asiimwe, follows assurances from the government regarding a monthly allowance of Shs1 million.
This development comes after a period of unrest where interns, including doctors, pharmacists, and graduate nurses, had protested and withheld their services. They were demanding a monthly stipend of Shs4 million before commencing their year-long training, a prerequisite for obtaining their practicing licenses.
“The internship allowance issue has been resolved, for now. All medical interns should report to their designated internship sites immediately and serve our country with diligence and professionalism,” Dr. Asiimwe stated in a notice on August 18. The UMA emphasized its continued commitment to finding long-term solutions for the challenges faced by medical interns.
Minister of Health, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, announced that the Cabinet had decided to maintain the existing allowance structure for the current cohort of interns. Previously, there was a proposal to differentiate payments based on sponsorship status and to provide meal allowances. However, the Cabinet recommended suspending these changes.
“So going forward, the current cohort of interns will be paid the same amount, which is 1,268,929 and is subject to tax, and then the net pay will be 1 million,” Dr. Baryomunsi explained to Members of Parliament. He clarified that the distinction between government-sponsored and privately-sponsored interns regarding allowances has been suspended for this group.
The interns were initially expected to report for duty between August 1 and August 14. Their essential role in healthcare service delivery, especially given the shortage of government-employed medical professionals, has been highlighted by the UMA.