Cabinet Set to Consider Medical Interns' Concerns as Deployment Standoff Deepens

What the report says

Uganda’s Cabinet is expected to review concerns over the deployment and welfare of medical interns, according to Health Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi. The discussion comes as thousands of newly qualified health professionals wait for clarity on placements, funding and the conditions for completing internship, a required supervised stage before independent practice. Baryomunsi raised the issue during an X Space hosted by journalist Henry Mugenyi, saying the government will consider how the policy is being applied and what changes may be needed.

The dispute centres on a government view that internship is part of training rather than formal employment, a position that has drawn criticism from interns and their representatives. The Federation of Uganda Medical Interns says it represents more than 2,000 doctors, dental surgeons, pharmacists, nurses and midwives across 73 hospitals. FUMI Secretary General Okwir Allan said the main concern is the policy itself, not just welfare issues. Baryomunsi has said the ministry will prepare a Cabinet paper while still moving ahead with deployments.

The report also points to a wider planning problem in Uganda’s health sector: training institutions are producing more graduates than the system can easily absorb into internship slots and later employment. Ministry of Health data cited in the article says 2,290 medical doctors from 17 universities have already been assigned placements for the 2025/26 cycle, including 578 from Kampala International University. Baryomunsi said government wants to engage medical schools to understand how many students they are training, which could help guide future workforce planning.