By Johannah Nantongo
KAMPALA: Government has suspended a proposal that would have withdrawn facilitation for privately sponsored medical interns, allowing the current cohort of interns to continue receiving a net monthly allowance of Shs1 million.
The Minister of Health, Dr Chris Baryomunsi, made the announcement in Parliament on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, following weeks of public debate, media reports and protests by medical interns over provisions in the National Education and Training for Health Policy.
Baryomunsi said Cabinet had resolved to suspend the controversial provision and maintain the existing facilitation arrangement for all medical interns in the current cohort.
“Cabinet recommended that we suspend that provision on facilitation and pay them as it has been. The current cohort of interns will all receive a net pay of Shs1 million,” Baryomunsi said.
He explained that Government had traditionally facilitated all medical interns, but a new policy sought to differentiate between interns who were government-sponsored at university and those who were privately sponsored.
Under the proposed arrangement, government-sponsored interns would continue receiving the full allowance, while privately sponsored interns would only receive support for meals.
Baryomunsi said Government has since expanded internship centres to 77 and deployed 2,490 interns, including doctors, pharmacists, dentists, graduate nurses and midwives.
He said Cabinet had tasked him with reviewing the policy and preparing a comprehensive paper addressing human-resource challenges in the health sector. The review will consider the number of health professionals Uganda needs to train, their absorption into public service and appropriate remuneration.
The minister also announced that Government had reversed a proposal requiring medical students to complete internship before graduation.
He said students will continue to graduate after completing their academic requirements, while internship will remain a separate requirement for professional practice.
Baryomunsi further said the Ministry would engage relevant Government agencies to secure the release of medical interns who were arrested during protests against the earlier policy.
The Leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, welcomed the Government’s decision but called for a review of the Shs1 million allowance, arguing that inflation has eroded its value.
“The interns deserve more. Times have changed; the terrain is different. That Shs1 million of many years ago cannot remain the same,” Ssenyonyi said.
He urged Government to establish a sustainable facilitation arrangement that would benefit future cohorts rather than limiting the decision to the current group of interns.
Ssenyonyi said Government had acknowledged that interns are medical professionals who require facilitation, but urged Parliament and the Executive to hold further discussions on a long-term solution.
The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Health, Julius Rude, called for internship facilitation to be included in the national budget. He also urged Government to provide safe accommodation for interns close to their deployment facilities.
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, who chaired the sitting, urged ministers to brief Parliament on Cabinet decisions with far-reaching consequences instead of allowing MPs to learn about them through the media.
“There are critical decisions you take in Cabinet which have far-reaching impacts. When you take them, come and update us so that we do not pick them from the public,” Tayebwa said.