Medical interns under their umbrella body, the Federation for Uganda Medical Interns (FUMI), have called on the Ministry of Health to urgently respond to their petition regarding the National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NETH) policy and their welfare.
Speaking at a press conference, the leader of the 2026 medical interns’ cohort, Dr. Silver Ssegonga said the interns submitted a detailed report to the ministry outlining several key demands.
These include scrapping the NETH policy, which they say prevents medical interns from receiving allowances, implementing President Yoweri Museveni’s 2021 directive on the amount to be paid medical interns, ensuring that allowances are paid promptly at least every monthly and deploying all eligible medical interns.
The interns are also demanding a monthly allowance of four million shillings, arguing that the amount would enable them to meet the cost of accommodation, transport, meals, and other basic necessities while serving in health facilities across the country.
Ssegonga said the petition was submitted in good faith with the expectation of a prompt response from the ministry, but no action has been taken. He added that, despite the unresolved concerns, the Ministry of Health last night released a deployment list assigning interns to various hospitals across the country without providing any clarification regarding their allowances.
As a result, the medical interns have vowed not to report to their respective duty stations until the Ministry of Health clearly addresses the issue of their allowances.
Meanwhile, the President of the Uganda Medical Association, Frank Asiimwe, questioned how the government expects the newly deployed interns to survive in different parts of the country without financial support.
Following the press conference, the interns attempted to march to the Ministry of Health to deliver their petition, but they were stopped by police before reaching the ministry.
Medical interns are demanding the withdrawal of the new National Education and Training for Health policy, an increase in monthly internship allowances to Shs 4 million, and the immediate deployment of all eligible graduates. Earlier on President Museveni had directed Medical Interns to be paid Shs 2.5m per month however this never materialized, they have been receiving Shs around 900,000 which again the ministry of Health has allegedly stopped due to budget constraint.
The Uganda Medical Internship Committee UMIC Secretariat in a later dated 30th July 2026 announced the placement of at least 2,417 medical interns to health facilities across the country for a period running 3rd August 2026 to July 31, 2027. They are from Makerere University, Busitema University, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Soroti University, Lira University, Gulu University and Kampala International University, according to the statement signed by the Director of Public Health Dr. Daniel Kyabayinze.
By Newsroom
31st July 2026
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