By KT Reporter
The Uganda Medical Association (UMA), the umbrella body that brings together medical doctors across the country, will on Friday close the expression of interest for leadership positions, an exercise that has attracted an unprecedented number of participants.
While he could not reveal the total number of applicants since the process was still ongoing, Dr Joel Mirembe, the Chairperson of the UMA Electoral Commission, told URN on Thursday that this year’s election will be very competitive, with some positions attracting up to twelve candidates.
For the presidential race, he noted that three doctors have so far expressed interest and have started campaigning even before the official release of the electoral roadmap, a move observers attribute to the growing popularity and influence of the association.
In a separate interview, UMA President Dr Herbert Luswata, whose two-year term is coming to an end, said the surge in interest reflects the association’s strengthened position and achievements during his tenure.
According to Luswata, the outgoing leadership created several income-generating avenues, including applying for grants and negotiating deals for the exportation of health workers abroad. As part of these initiatives, UMA secured a USD 750,000 grant from UNAIDS to train health workers in handling key populations.
The association also received a presidential donation of 195 million Shillings and other funds from various partnerships and agreements.
Luswata revealed that when his team took office two years ago, the association’s account held only 5 million Shillings, mainly from membership fees, barely enough to pay the two administrators employed at the secretariat, but they are now handing over an association worth 500 million Shillings.
He believes these financial successes and partnerships have inspired many doctors to seek leadership positions.
However, the aspiring candidates paint a different picture. Dr Frank Asiimwe, Uganda’s first kidney transplant surgeon and current UMA Vice President, who declared his bid two months ago after launching nationwide consultations, told URN that his motivation is primarily service.
He said he has been visiting hospitals across the country to hear directly from doctors about their needs and challenges. Asiimwe explained that his leadership plan includes establishing regional hubs where selected doctors will receive start-up capital to open health facilities, a strategy aimed at reducing unemployment among medical professionals.
When asked whether the association’s growing financial muscle motivated his decision to contest, Asiimwe dismissed the claim.
He acknowledged, however, that accountability concerns have occasionally arisen within the association.
The Uganda Medical Association gained significant national visibility during the tenure of Dr Ekwaro Obuku, whose leadership oversaw the longest sit-down strike by doctors over salary enhancement and improved working conditions.
Although the government initially threatened to replace the striking doctors with foreign medics, Obuku’s leadership ultimately secured salary increments for health workers, cementing UMA’s reputation as a powerful professional body.
This year, over 8,000 members will cast their votes online on November 7 and 8 to elect a new president from among Dr Asiimwe, Dr Asiphas Owaraganise, and Dr Henry Sekyanzi.
Meanwhile, due to the overwhelming interest in the polls, Dr Wallen Tumwine Nuwagaba has petitioned the UMA leadership to extend the nomination deadlines, which were set for October 13 and 14, for physical submissions to October 17 for online submissions.
However, Dr Mirembe said no extension will be granted, emphasising that candidates had sufficient time to prepare and submit their applications either physically or via email.
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