News
Uganda nurses' union condemns scrapping of medical intern allowances
UNMU president Justus Cherop Kiplangat cautioned that removing the stipends would expose young medical professionals to extreme hardship.
Cherop Kiplangat, President of the 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 the intern allowance at Mulago, June 12, 2026. (File/New Vision/Wilfred Sanya)
By: John Masaba, Journalist @New Vision
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The Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union (UNMU) has condemned the government's decision to scrap allowances for medical interns, warning that the move could compromise patient safety across the country's health facilities.
Speaking at a press briefing at the union's offices in Mulago on Monday, UNMU president Justus Cherop Kiplangat cautioned that removing the stipends would expose young medical professionals to extreme hardship.
"A hungry, stressed medical intern cannot provide safe care," he stated.
The union criticised the current internship framework, which requires a minimum of one year of closely supervised, hands-on clinical training.
The union argued that because interns are fully deployed to manage heavy workloads alongside senior staff, denying them financial support amounts to labour exploitation.
"If it is work, it must be paid," Kiplangat noted, warning that Uganda risks becoming the only country in the region expecting medical interns to help run health systems without financial compensation.
Accelerating brain drain
Citing government data, UNMU said 10% of Ugandan doctors already migrate annually due to job insecurity and low wages. Kiplangat said stripping interns of basic welfare support would only accelerate the brain drain while creating serious risks for local hospitals.
Kiplangat warned that interns who cannot afford food or basic transport are more likely to make critical clinical errors.
The union argued that because interns are fully deployed to manage heavy workloads alongside senior staff, denying them financial support amounts to labour exploitation.
"If it is work, it must be paid," Kiplangat noted, warning that Uganda risks becoming the only country in the region expecting medical interns to help run health systems without financial compensation.
Accelerating brain drain
Citing government data, UNMU said 10% of Ugandan doctors already migrate annually due to job insecurity and low wages. Kiplangat said stripping interns of basic welfare support would only accelerate the brain drain while creating serious risks for local hospitals.
Kiplangat warned that interns who cannot afford food or basic transport are more likely to make critical clinical errors.
"Mistakes made by hungry personnel will cost Ugandans their lives," he said, describing the current policy direction as a direct threat to public health and patient safety.
In response, UNMU issued three key demands to the government and the newly elected Parliament.
The union is calling for the immediate restoration and protection of medical intern allowances.
It also wants full implementation of quality and welfare guidelines already enshrined in national health training frameworks.
In addition, the union is demanding meaningful consultations rather than imposed policies, urging the government to honour an existing collective bargaining agreement that requires engagement on health workforce matters.
Government defends reforms
The contested allowances are linked to the National Education and Training for Health Policy 2025, a major reform jointly introduced by the ministries of Health and Education to improve the quality, regulation and deployment of Uganda's health workforce.
The policy restructures medical training by integrating internships into undergraduate education, meaning students will receive their degrees only after successfully completing a mandatory internship.
It also introduces a national pre-internship examination, tighter admission standards, standardised training requirements, and greater use of modern technologies such as artificial intelligence and simulation-based learning.
The government says the reforms were prompted by growing concerns over the quality of some health graduates, many of whom reportedly failed basic clinical assessments despite holding university degrees.
The Ministry of Health also cites the rapid expansion of medical training institutions, which has increased the number of interns from about 200 annually to between 1,500 and 2,000. This growth has created severe internship backlogs and placed pressure on hospital training capacity.
The policy is intended to address Uganda's chronic shortage of health workers by aligning training with national workforce needs.
Policy review
While the government views the policy as essential for safeguarding healthcare standards, critics argue that it could create new challenges for trainees and the wider health sector.
They contend that withholding degrees until internship completion will increase financial burdens on students and their families, create uncertainty over intern welfare, and potentially accelerate the migration of health professionals seeking opportunities abroad.
The measure has sparked widespread concern across the country, prompting several medical professional bodies to voice their objections.
Addressing the backlash last week, the new health minister, Dr Chris Baryomunsi, said the controversial policy is currently under review.
In response, UNMU issued three key demands to the government and the newly elected Parliament.
The union is calling for the immediate restoration and protection of medical intern allowances.
It also wants full implementation of quality and welfare guidelines already enshrined in national health training frameworks.
In addition, the union is demanding meaningful consultations rather than imposed policies, urging the government to honour an existing collective bargaining agreement that requires engagement on health workforce matters.
Government defends reforms
The contested allowances are linked to the National Education and Training for Health Policy 2025, a major reform jointly introduced by the ministries of Health and Education to improve the quality, regulation and deployment of Uganda's health workforce.
The policy restructures medical training by integrating internships into undergraduate education, meaning students will receive their degrees only after successfully completing a mandatory internship.
It also introduces a national pre-internship examination, tighter admission standards, standardised training requirements, and greater use of modern technologies such as artificial intelligence and simulation-based learning.
The government says the reforms were prompted by growing concerns over the quality of some health graduates, many of whom reportedly failed basic clinical assessments despite holding university degrees.
The Ministry of Health also cites the rapid expansion of medical training institutions, which has increased the number of interns from about 200 annually to between 1,500 and 2,000. This growth has created severe internship backlogs and placed pressure on hospital training capacity.
The policy is intended to address Uganda's chronic shortage of health workers by aligning training with national workforce needs.
Policy review
While the government views the policy as essential for safeguarding healthcare standards, critics argue that it could create new challenges for trainees and the wider health sector.
They contend that withholding degrees until internship completion will increase financial burdens on students and their families, create uncertainty over intern welfare, and potentially accelerate the migration of health professionals seeking opportunities abroad.
The measure has sparked widespread concern across the country, prompting several medical professional bodies to voice their objections.
Addressing the backlash last week, the new health minister, Dr Chris Baryomunsi, said the controversial policy is currently under review.