Health
Nurses, midwives' union protests scrapping internship allowances
Kiplangat called upon Ugandans to join the fight against scrapping the internship allowance for medical interns.
Cherop Kiplangat, President Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union (UNMU) and Peter Habyarimana, Secretary at UNMU in charge of education and research, while addressing a press conference regarding the position of intern allowance at Mulago on Friday, June 12, 2026. (Photo by Wilfred Sanya)
By: Wilfred Sanya, Journalist @New Vision
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The Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union (UNMU) has appealed to government not to scrap the internship allowances, saying doing so will affect their training and health service delivery.
The call was made by UNMU President Cherop Kiplangat while addressing a press conference at Mulago last week.
“The UNMU has received with dismay the Government’s new policy framework that has removed the medical intern’s allowance. As a Union representing nurses and midwives, we stand in solidarity with our colleagues,” Kiplangat said.
Kiplangat added; “We cannot remain silent when a policy that should have strengthened the training of health workers is instead endangering the health sector and demotivating the workforce meant to save lives.”
Kiplangat called upon Ugandans to join the fight against scrapping the internship allowance for medical interns. "Ugandans should instead demand that government makes the right decision before the avoidable deaths occur," he noted.
During internship, medics undergo hands-on training for one year under the supervision of senior medical workers.
“If we get epidemics like COVID or Ebola, it is the medical interns who are always at the forefront of saving life. In the recent case of Ebola, where a patient died at Kibuli hospital, some interns got infected," Kiplangat revealed.
Speaking during a radio talk show on Saturday, Health Minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi said the Government would review the health training policy, adding that this would be done after consulting President Yoweri Museveni.
Kiplangat called upon Ugandans to join the fight against scrapping the internship allowance for medical interns. "Ugandans should instead demand that government makes the right decision before the avoidable deaths occur," he noted.
During internship, medics undergo hands-on training for one year under the supervision of senior medical workers.
“If we get epidemics like COVID or Ebola, it is the medical interns who are always at the forefront of saving life. In the recent case of Ebola, where a patient died at Kibuli hospital, some interns got infected," Kiplangat revealed.
Medics sing the women’s anthem at Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union (UNMU head offices at Mulago. (Photo by Wilfred Sanya)
Speaking during a radio talk show on Saturday, Health Minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi said the Government would review the health training policy, adding that this would be done after consulting President Yoweri Museveni.
Meanwhile, Peter Habyarimana, the UNMU Secretary in charge of education and research, said they are also concerned that some hospitals are reportedly asking medical interns to buy themselves uniforms.
Habyarimana said it is the duty of government to provide uniforms for all medical personnel, arguing that the uniform identifies medics from ordinary people and avoids impersonation of medics.
“Stay home in case you do not have a uniform; we shall not allow you to come and work without uniforms," he said.
Habyarimana said it is the duty of government to provide uniforms for all medical personnel, arguing that the uniform identifies medics from ordinary people and avoids impersonation of medics.
“Stay home in case you do not have a uniform; we shall not allow you to come and work without uniforms," he said.