The Vice President, H.E. Jessica Alupo, has said the government will review the decision to halt payment of medical interns, emphasizing that government policies are designed to serve the interests of the people.
Alupo made the remarks following concerns raised by the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi, over reports that medical interns will no longer receive allowances.
The issue was raised during a plenary sitting chaired by Speaker Jacob Marksons Oboth on Wednesday, June 10, 2026.
Speaking before Parliament, the Vice President said Cabinet would discuss the proposed Medical Education and Internship Policy, after which the Minister of Health would present a formal statement to the House.
“We are talking about the positive impact of the deliberate channelling of resources to the human resource development of our country. We can definitely review this policy,” Alupo said.
Hon. Ssenyonyi argued that medical interns play a critical role in sustaining Uganda’s healthcare system, especially in government hospitals and health centres where they often work under demanding conditions.
“Sometimes they work 36 hours, other times they work 48 hours non-stop, to take care of the people of Uganda. Government has historically facilitated them to do this work,” Ssenyonyi said.
He questioned how interns would sustain themselves if allowances were withdrawn while still being expected to report for duty and provide essential medical services.
Ssenyonyi also urged government to urgently secure funds to maintain the allowances, arguing that resources could be mobilized through cost-saving measures.
“Government recently suspended public holiday functions to save money. We had already passed that entire budget. Government, let us find this money so that we can pay medical interns,” he added.
Recently, government announced that effective August 2026, medical interns would no longer receive monthly allowances under a new policy framework. According to the proposal, medical internship will be integrated into the formal university education system.
