Intern doctors threaten to halt emergency services over unpaid allowances

12 December 2025, 10:49 am

By Ronald Ssemagonja

The standoff between intern medical doctors and the Ministry of Health has escalated after the Federation of Uganda Medical Interns threatened to withdraw all emergency services across the 74 hospitals where they are stationed. The warning was issued Thursday during a meeting held in Kampala.

Dr. Jacob Mwadha, president of the federation, said the interns have repeatedly attempted to engage the Ministry of Health on unresolved issues regarding their allowances but efforts have yielded nothing.

“Two months ago we tried to engage the ministry of health to see how best we can solve this challenge. Intern medical doctors have a constitutional right to have allowances and salaries. Scrapping allowances saying that it is double payment, we don’t agree with that because the ministry of health is very aware that even Members of Parliament are entitled to allowances and salaries,” Dr. Mwadha said.

He added that during their last national meeting, the interns’ leadership gave the ministry ten days to respond. When the deadline expired on 9th of this month, they resolved to commence industrial action starting 10th, and vowed to continue until the ministry takes action.

According to Dr. Mwadha, some interns have remained at their duty stations only to handle emergency cases out of concern for patients’ lives. However, he warned that if Sunday of this week arrives without any intervention from authorities, interns will also withdraw from emergency duties.

The federation appealed directly to President Yoweri Museveni to intervene, reminding him that his earlier directive to increase their salaries has never been implemented.

Dr. Joseph Atuha, vice president of the federation, reiterated that intern doctors are entitled to both salaries and allowances, saying it is not illegal contrary to what the ministry claims. He stressed that the leadership will not relent in advocating for better welfare for interns.

Also present at the meeting were Dr. Kayondo Derrick, Chief Resident, and Dr. Daniel Bwabule, Deputy Representative of COSECSA Residents. Both urged government to take the matter seriously, emphasising that intern doctors play a critical role in both public and private health facilities.

The interns have long faced challenges with the Ministry of Health, even during deployment processes. Many qualified doctors leave the country after internship in search of better opportunities, worsening the shortage of medical professionals in Uganda.

By press time, the Ministry of Health had not issued any clear response to the demands of the medical interns.