Medics seek Museveni’s intervention over proposed medical training reforms

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Uganda’s doctors have appealed to President Yoweri Museveni to intervene in a proposed overhaul of medical education and internship training, warning that the reforms could increase the cost of training, delay graduation and worsen existing challenges facing the country’s health workforce.

In a statement issued by Dr Frank Asiimwe, the head of the doctors’ union, on June 3, 2026, the Uganda Medical Association (UMA) said it was concerned by reports that the government is considering changes that would extend undergraduate medical training from five to six years, integrate internship into the medical degree programme, require students or their sponsors to finance the internship year, and withhold graduation until internship is completed.

The association said it intends to seek an audience with President Museveni, arguing that the proposed changes require broader consultation before implementation.

“We urgently seek an audience with His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni to discuss these proposed reforms and their implications for medical education and healthcare delivery in Uganda,” the association said.

The doctors’ appeal comes amid an ongoing debate over the future of internship training, a critical stage that medical graduates must complete before obtaining full licensure to practice medicine independently.

According to UMA, graduation from medical school and internship serve different purposes and should remain separate processes. The association noted that universities award degrees after students successfully complete academic requirements, while internship is a professional training and licensing requirement regulated by the Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council.

“Linking graduation to completion of internship would merge two distinct processes that are overseen by different institutions,” the statement said.

The doctors also warned that the proposal could leave graduates stranded because internship placements have often been delayed by budgetary constraints and administrative bottlenecks.

In recent years, some medical graduates have waited months and, in certain cases, more than a year before receiving deployment to internship training centres. UMA argued that making graduation dependent on internship completion would mean students who have already fulfilled all university requirements could remain without degrees because of delays beyond their control.

The association further warned that requiring students or their sponsors to fund an additional year of internship would significantly increase the cost of medical education.

“Medicine is already among the most expensive courses in Uganda. Adding another compulsory sponsor-funded year risks excluding capable students from disadvantaged backgrounds and widening inequalities in access to medical training,” the statement said.

Doctors also raised concerns about the social and economic impact of delaying graduation. They said graduates without degrees or transcripts could face difficulties applying for scholarships, pursuing postgraduate studies, seeking employment opportunities or advancing into other health-related fields.

The association argued that such uncertainty could worsen stress, burnout and mental health challenges among young doctors. UMA called on the government to focus on expanding internship capacity and improving conditions for trainees.

The association proposed accrediting more internship training centres, deploying additional specialists to supervise interns, strengthening competency-based assessments, improving mentorship programmes and ensuring timely payment of intern allowances.

Doctors also urged the government to invest more resources in internship training sites across regional referral hospitals, district hospitals and accredited private facilities to accommodate growing numbers of medical graduates.

“The solution lies in strengthening internship supervision, welfare and training standards within the existing framework rather than transferring additional financial burdens to students and families,” the statement said.

UMA maintained that improving the quality of medical training is an important national objective, but argued that there is no evidence that simply increasing the duration of undergraduate training automatically produces better doctors.

The association said the quality of medical education depends more on adequate supervision, training resources, mentorship and practical exposure than on the number of years spent in training.

The doctors warned that reforms that increase barriers to medical education or delay professional progression could ultimately weaken Uganda’s future health workforce at a time when the country continues to face shortages of health professionals.

UMA said it remains open to dialogue with the government and other stakeholders but called for broad consultations involving medical students, universities, professional bodies, regulators and education experts before any major changes are adopted.

“Medical education is a strategic national investment. Any reforms must strengthen, not undermine, the future healthcare workforce that Uganda depends on,” the association said.

Govt defends decision

The government has already defended its decision to end allowances for medical interns, arguing that the move will enable thousands of graduates who have previously been locked out of internship placements due to funding constraints to complete their training and join Uganda's health workforce.

While speaking to the press at Parliament on June 1, 2026, health minister Chris Baryomunsi said the policy shift was prompted by a sharp increase in the number of doctors, pharmacists, nurses and other health professionals graduating from both public and private universities, a trend that has outpaced government resources available to support internship training.

"In the past years, the government has been paying an allowance to the interns, but this started when there were a few doctors coming out of universities. Today we have very many universities, both public and private, producing doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other health workers who undertake internships," Baryomunsi said.

He noted that the government would engage and listen to all stakeholders during the implementation of the policy.