Health 11 June 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Uganda's Health Ministry to Review Funding for Private Medical Interns
The new Minister of Health, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, has assured government-sponsored medical interns of continued full support and pledged to investigate options for assisting privately sponsored graduates amid recent program disruptions. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/health-ministry-to-review-private-interns-funding-as-baryomunsi-takes-office-5492250
Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, the newly appointed Minister of Health, has addressed concerns surrounding the medical internship program in Uganda. Recent months have seen significant strains, including delayed deployments and protests from pre-interns regarding their allowances.
During the official handover ceremony on June 10, 2026, Dr. Baryomunsi stated that government-sponsored interns will continue to receive their full facilitation without interruption. He also revealed that the Cabinet has directed the Ministry of Health to assess the financial feasibility of providing lunch allowances to graduates from private medical institutions, a move aimed at supporting these individuals as they complete their mandatory one-year internship.
Dr. Baryomunsi attributed the ongoing challenges to a sharp increase in medical graduates from both public and private universities. He emphasized the need for better long-term human resource planning to align the training of health professionals with the country’s actual staffing needs over the next five to fifteen years.
Beyond the internship crisis, the minister identified managing the current Ebola outbreak as an immediate priority. He pledged to strengthen response and containment efforts. Dr. Baryomunsi, who previously served as State Minister of Health, also signaled his intention to leverage his recent experience in ICT to digitalize health services and improve public communication within the sector. He issued a strong warning against corruption, urging staff to embrace transparency and accountability.
The outgoing minister, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, highlighted achievements such as containing the Ebola outbreak and progress on the Lubowa Specialized Hospital. However, she cautioned Dr. Baryomunsi about persistent systemic issues like inadequate financing, a high disease burden, and low health insurance coverage, urging him to prioritize the National Health Insurance Scheme Bill and address staff absenteeism.