Government Reinstates Medical Interns’ Pay, Approves Graduation Before Internship Year

[Eronda]

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa has announced that government has met the two core demands of medical interns: reinstating their monthly facilitation and approving graduation before the mandatory internship year.

The announcement marks a reversal of the Ministry of Health’s recent policy that had reclassified internship as continued training, effectively phasing out allowances and delaying deployments for the 2026 cohort.

Background of the Dispute

For months, medical interns have staged protests, strikes, and legal actions against reduced allowances and delayed deployment. The government’s earlier decision to cut monthly facilitation from Shs2.5 million to Shs1 million left interns struggling to meet living costs during demanding hospital shifts.

Policy Suspension

Following Cabinet’s suspension of the new policy, interns will now receive approximately UGX 1.27 million monthly facilitation (netting about Shs1 million after tax). This concession has been welcomed as a relief for the current cohort, but questions remain about its permanence.

Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi has cautioned that the suspension is temporary, warning that interns may face the same battle next year if government fails to fully withdraw the contested policy. He further argued that the longstanding Shs1 million net allowance is inadequate given rising living costs and remote deployments, calling for a comprehensive review to ensure fair compensation for interns’ critical roles in health facilities.

While the government’s reversal eases immediate tensions, the debate underscores deeper concerns about healthcare workforce welfare and sustainability. Stakeholders insist that lasting solutions beyond temporary suspensions are needed to safeguard morale and service delivery in Uganda’s hospitals.
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