The Uganda Medical Association (UMA) has raised alarm over what it describes as a growing culture of hostility and violence directed at medical personnel across the country, warning that such behavior threatens the stability of the health care system.
In a press statement issued by its President on Tuesday, Dr. Frank Asiimwe, the association noted with concern the increasing cases of verbal abuse, intimidation and physical attacks against doctors and other health workers, particularly in moments of grief, frustration or dissatisfaction with medical outcomes.
Dr. Asiimwe emphasized that Uganda’s doctors, now numbering over 10,000 and serving in all parts of the country, are members of the same communities they serve, describing them as “sons and daughters, siblings and parents” dedicated to preserving life.
He cautioned against the misconception that payment for medical services, especially in private facilities where cost-sharing applies, guarantees specific outcomes. According to the UMA, medicine does not provide immunity against death or assured recovery, stressing that life and death remain beyond human control.
“Doctors are not miracle workers, nor are they commodities to be mistreated when outcomes are unfavorable,” the statement reads, adding that medical professionals deserve respect by virtue of their training, expertise and service to society.
The association strongly condemned assaults on health workers, describing such acts as criminal and uncivilized. It warned that attacking medical personnel not only violates their human rights but also undermines the delivery of care to countless other patients.
UMA further called on the public to express dissatisfaction and grief in a humane and lawful manner, urging a return to civility and mutual respect within health facilities.
“As a nation, we must protect the healers if we expect to be healed,” Dr. Asiimwe said, noting that safeguarding the dignity of medical workers is essential for a functional and resilient health system.
The association concluded by appealing to Ugandan’s to preserve the gains made in the health sector and to support, rather than undermine, the professionals who anchor it.
