Health Minister Orders Interns to Report by August 15 or Forfeit Placements

Minister of Health, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, has directed medical interns across Uganda to report to their assigned posts by Saturday, August 15, 2026. Failure to comply with this directive will lead to the revocation of their internship placements.

The warning comes in response to concerns raised in Parliament by the Leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, regarding a potential industrial action by medical interns and doctors. Ssenyonyi highlighted a notification from the Uganda Medical Association indicating planned industrial action if the government does not address issues surrounding intern facilitation within a 14-day timeframe.

This dispute stems from recent changes to the health training policy, which saw the government discontinue the Shs1 million payment previously provided to each medical student undertaking their internship. While the government is still consulting on the implications of this policy shift, Minister Baryomunsi emphasized the expectation that interns will adhere to their deployment schedules.

Dr. Baryomunsi stated that discussions have already taken place with the medical interns, urging them not to be misled and to proceed with their deployments. He assured Parliament that the government is committed to finding a resolution and appreciates the vital work performed by these future healthcare professionals. The Minister requested additional time to finalize consultations, stressing the existing goodwill from the government.

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa urged the Minister to expedite the consultation process and provide a definitive stance on the matter, suggesting it be raised in Cabinet for a final position to be communicated to Parliament promptly.

Under Uganda’s policy, a mandatory supervised clinical internship is a prerequisite for medical students to obtain their university degrees.

Source: Howwe Entertainment