Gov’t commits to pay Shs 1m to medical interns
The Cabinet has passed a resolution to pay a monthly stipend of Shs 1 million to all medical interns currently deployed across various training centres. According to Alioni Yorke Odria, minister of State for ICT and National Guidance, the payments will run from August to December. This development follows a widespread standoff where the majority […] The post Gov’t commits to pay Shs 1m to medical interns appeared first on The Observer Media Ltd.
Black News 
The Cabinet has passed a resolution to pay a monthly stipend of Shs 1 million to all medical interns currently deployed across various training centres.
According to Alioni Yorke Odria, minister of State for ICT and National Guidance, the payments will run from August to December. This development follows a widespread standoff where the majority of the 2,417 deployed interns declined to report to work, citing grievances over allowances and working conditions.
The resolution marks a sharp pivot from a controversial policy proposal introduced by the government earlier this year. Under the draft National Education and Training for Health Policy, authorities had aimed to eliminate standard intern allowances entirely.
The original plan sought to maintain support only for government-sponsored students, while privately sponsored graduates would receive a minimal meal allowance of Shs 483,334, relying primarily on parents or guardians for remaining living expenses.
Furthermore, the disputed policy had proposed that medical students complete their internship periods prior to formal graduation. Speaking to journalists at the Uganda Media Center, Odria confirmed that this requirement has been canceled, allowing students to graduate before commencing their training.
Reacting to the announcement, Dr Joel Mirembe, former president of the Federation of Uganda Medical Interns (FUMI), noted that while uniform payment for both government and privately sponsored interns is a welcome step, the measure falls short of broader expectations.
He observed that the directive aligns with past practices and remains well below the Uganda Medical Association’s standing demand of Shs 4 million for junior doctors. The response follows a 14-day ultimatum issued by FUMI leadership threatening nationwide industrial action if intern welfare demands were not comprehensively addressed.
In a parallel address to parliament, minister of Health Dr Chris Baryomunsi confirmed the suspension of the discriminatory facilitation arrangements between private and government-sponsored cohorts.
The concession follows weeks of intense parliamentary pressure, public protests, and subsequent arrests and remand of several striking medical workers. Baryomunsi clarified that for the current cohort, the differentiation has been paused, ensuring all interns receive a uniform monthly payment of Shs 1,268,929.
Baryomunsi assured lawmakers that the foundational structure of medical training in the country remains unchanged. Graduates of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, Dental Surgery, Pharmacy, as well as nursing and midwifery programs, will continue to follow the traditional progression path.
The post Gov’t commits to pay Shs 1m to medical interns appeared first on The Observer Media Ltd.
