Intern Doctors Threaten Boycott Over Scrapped Allowances Under New Health Ministry Policy

What the report says

Ugandan medical interns are threatening to boycott deployment to health facilities after the Ministry of Health removed their monthly allowances under a new internship policy, according to Nile Post. The dispute comes as the 2026/2027 internship period approaches and hospitals begin receiving deployment lists for the one-year supervised practice required before doctors can qualify for full licensure.

Nile Post reports that Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi announced in June that internship had been reclassified as training rather than formal employment, and that government-sponsored interns would continue receiving facilitation but not a monthly allowance. The Federation of Uganda Medical Interns says the move breaks with previous government practice and does not reflect the long hours and responsibilities interns carry in public health facilities.

Federation president Silver Ssegonga, speaking on Salam TV, said interns should not be treated like ordinary students, while intern leader Claire Namigadde said graduates have already completed several years of medical training before the mandatory internship. The federation is appealing to President Yoweri Museveni and wants compensation set at 70% of a fully licensed doctor’s salary. It also says some hospital managers are warning interns to report on time or face action.

The outcome matters because the standoff could affect staffing at health facilities if interns stay away. Nile Post says the ministry has not publicly responded to the latest demand, and deployment is already under way.