Uganda: Uganda Has One Licensed Doctor for Every 6,400 People, Figures Show

What the report says

Uganda has 7,871 doctors with active licences for the 2026 practice year, according to figures reported by Nile Post and distributed by AllAfrica. The data from the Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council suggest about one licensed doctor for every 6,400 people, as the country’s population is projected to pass 50 million by the end of 2026.

The report says 10,951 doctors are registered with the council, meaning 3,080 do not currently hold active licences. It also notes that the licensed total reflects overall medical capacity rather than the number of doctors directly available in government hospitals, since doctors may work in private facilities, academia, research, or be outside the country.

The article places the figures in the context of broader pressure on Uganda’s health system, especially in public hospitals and underserved regions outside Kampala. It says demand is rising alongside population growth and that access to care also depends on nurses, midwives, pharmacists, laboratory staff, medicines, equipment, and functioning facilities.

The piece also links the staffing discussion to the dispute over medical interns, a supervised part of the health workforce, and says the government has deployed 2,417 interns for the 2026/27 year, although many had not reported by the time of publication. Taken together, the figures underscore concerns about workforce distribution, retention, and the ability of the health system to serve a fast-growing population.