Mulago interns end strike

By Violet Nabatanzi

Intern medical doctors at Mulago Hospital have called off their strike.The strike started last week with over 200 interns protesting the Government’s delay in paying their allowances for the month of November and December.

The decision to call off the strike was reached after a meeting with the Ministry of Health permanent secretary, Dr. Asuman Lukwago, Mulago’s executive director Dr. Baterana Byarugaba and other staff from the hospital at Mulago Hospital.

The interns were assured by the permanent secretary that their allowances were deposited on their accounts.

Farouk Kayiwa, one of the interns, said: “We have resumed work today because we have been assured that our money has been deposited on our accounts.”

The intern medical doctors are entitled to sh600,000 in allowances per month.

The hospital’s spokesperson, Enock Kusasira, said: “The meeting ended well and each side was satisfied with the resolutions and they promised to do what they are supposed to do.”

The strike, however, affected the hospital’s service delivery since most of the patients were stranded.

The students started their internship in May. They work in the obstetric and gynaecology, paediatrics, surgery and medicine wards.