Government Reinstates Medical Intern Facilitation

What the report says

The Ugandan government has reversed its decision to suspend facilitation for medical interns, according to Nile Post, after weeks of protests and uncertainty over pay and deployment. Health Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi told Parliament that Cabinet had rescinded the earlier policy that would have treated interns differently depending on whether they were government- or privately sponsored.

Under the restored arrangement, the current cohort of interns will continue receiving a monthly gross allowance of Shs1,268,929, with the minister saying this works out to about Shs1 million net after tax. Baryomunsi also extended the deadline for interns to report to their assigned facilities to Friday this week. He warned that those who do not report by then could be treated as having opted out of the internship programme.

The government also dropped a separate proposal that would have required medical students to complete internship before graduating. In the revised position, students who pass final exams will graduate first and then undertake internship as a professional requirement. Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa said the change addresses the two main issues raised by interns: their allowances and the graduation rule.

The development follows demonstrations by interns, including the arrest and later bail release of eight protesters in Kampala. Parliament has also called for broader reforms to medical training, recruitment and remuneration, while opposition leader Joel Ssenyonyi urged government to consider raising intern pay and making the policy more durable beyond the current cohort.