Eronda
JF-Expert Member
- Dec 16, 2025
- 996
- 540
Health Minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi has told Parliament that government has deployed eligible medical interns to accredited hospitals but accused unnamed “external forces” of encouraging them not to report for duty.
Baryomunsi said interns were expected to report to their assigned facilities between August 3 and August 14 as government continues consultations over their welfare and the implementation of new policy measures affecting internship.
The minister, however, suggested that the continued refusal by some interns to report was not entirely their own decision.
He told MPs that “external forces” were advising the young doctors not to report to their assigned facilities, although he did not identify the individuals or organisations he was referring to.
Baryomunsi’s remarks came as the Uganda Medical Association (UMA) escalated its support for the interns, giving government 14 days to resolve the standoff or face industrial action.
UMA is demanding, among other things, a monthly internship allowance of Shs4 million and guarantees that all eligible interns will be deployed to accredited training sites.
The association has also backed the interns’ decision not to report until government provides clear assurances on their welfare.
Baryomunsi also pushed back against arguments that interns are indispensable to Uganda’s health system.
He said internship is primarily a period of supervised professional training and that graduates must complete it before they can practise as fully licensed doctors.
The minister rejected claims that Uganda’s health system is entirely dependent on interns, pointing to health facilities that continue operating without them.
Source:Nile post
