The government has pledged to review the National Education and Training for Health Policy following widespread concerns over a controversial provision proposing the removal of allowances for medical interns, a move critics say could severely disrupt Uganda’s public healthcare system.
This follows strong objections from the Leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, who warned that scrapping intern allowances would undermine hospital staffing and weaken service delivery in already overstretched health facilities. Ssenyonyi, while on the floor of parliament on Wednesday, urged the government to abandon what he described as a “problematic policy” and instead prioritize funding for medical interns, who play a critical role in staffing government health facilities across the country.
He said medical interns constitute the backbone of Uganda’s public health system, often working exhausting shifts of up to 36 or 48 hours while providing essential services in health facilities. He noted that after completing their medical training, interns undergo a mandatory one-year internship during which the government has traditionally provided financial facilitation to cater for accommodation, transport, and upkeep.
However, the new policy seeks to change this so that internship happens before graduation. The other reforms that the policy introduces include pre-internship examination for trainees before placement and guidelines on the selection, deployment, supervision, and accreditation of internship sites. Ssenyonyi says the idea of discontinuing allowances has sparked the most concern among health professionals and legislators.
Earlier, the government had indicated that the number of medical interns deployed annually is currently increasing to a high of two thousand, and that it was risky and untenable for the government to continue paying them. Now, the opposition leader argues that the lack of funds should not be used as justification for the proposed policy, pointing to the government’s recent decision to suspend national public holiday celebrations as a cost-saving measure.
He said Parliament had already appropriated funds for those functions and suggested that the anticipated savings—estimated at Shillings 24 billion—could instead be redirected to support medical interns. “This is not one of those political issues that should divide NRM and the opposition. It is a matter that concerns all Ugandans,” he told the House while calling on the government to urgently find resources to maintain the interns’ facilitation.
Responding to the concerns, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja defended the government’s historical commitment to supporting medical interns, saying the programme was initiated on the directive of President Yoweri Museveni. “It is the President who directed the Ministry of Health to allocate money so that interns can be facilitated,” Nabbanja said. “It is NRM and Mzee who said let us facilitate these people.”
She acknowledged that the number of medical graduates has grown significantly over the years due to the expansion of medical training institutions, creating new financial pressures on the government. Nabbanja said the newly appointed Minister of Health would soon present a comprehensive report to Parliament explaining the current situation and the government’s position on the matter.
Vice President Jessica Alupo also weighed in on the debate, acknowledging that the rapid increase in medical graduates is the result of deliberate government investment in science education and human resource development. She, however, signalled that the government is open to reconsidering the proposal to withdraw facilitation for interns.
Her remarks offer reassurance to thousands of medical interns and students who have expressed concern over the reported proposal, amid fears that withdrawal of allowances could affect healthcare service delivery in public facilities already grappling with staffing shortages.
This parliamentary debate comes as pressure mounts on the government to clarify its position on intern facilitation, with stakeholders warning that any abrupt policy shift could have far-reaching implications for Uganda’s health sector. Dr Ronny Bahatungire, the Commissioner of Clinical Services in the Ministry of Health, had earlier indicated to URN that this policy was to started biting in August when the next lot of interns will be deployed-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
