Eight medical interns granted bail after Kampala protest

17 August 2026, 6:41 pm

By Ronald Ssemagonja

Eight medical interns who were detained at Luzira Prison over a demonstration against the Ministry of Health’s recruitment and remuneration policy have been granted bail by the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court in Kampala.

Presiding over the case, Chief Magistrate Rophine Achayo granted each of the eight accused persons cash bail of 200,000 shillings, while their sureties were ordered to execute a non-cash bond of three million shillings each.

The medical interns were arrested and remanded to Luzira Prison on Friday, August 14, after participating in a demonstration in Kampala over concerns regarding the recruitment, deployment and remuneration of medical interns.

The eight were charged with causing a common nuisance, with the prosecution alleging that their demonstration caused danger and inconvenience to traffic.

The interns were reportedly arrested along Parliamentary Avenue while dressed in white medical coats and carrying placards as they voiced their concerns.

Their arrest and subsequent detention sparked concern among medical professionals and other stakeholders, with several leaders in the medical fraternity calling for their release and questioning the decision to detain them.

The medics have also raised concerns over the welfare of medical interns, arguing that it is risky for someone to work on patients without assurance of receiving an allowance at the end of the month.

The eight interns are expected to leave Luzira Prison after completing the necessary court formalities.

However, the case will continue as the prosecution pursues the charges against them.