A recent analysis of medical intern deployment by the Health Ministry reveals that Kampala International University (KIU) and Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) have secured the highest number of placements for the 2024 internship program.
KIU leads with 437 interns, followed by MUST with 270. In contrast, Makerere University, one of Uganda’s oldest institutions, saw only 194 interns deployed.
The ministry’s data shows that out of 2,706 eligible medical interns, only 1,596 were deployed, leaving 1,110 graduates waiting due to limited funding and inadequate capacity at health facilities.
This disparity has sparked criticism, with questions raised about KIU’s capacity to train such large numbers. The Ministry of Health clarified that the high numbers from KIU result from a backlog of graduates.
In related developments, President Museveni acknowledged the financial challenges in paying medical interns, suggesting that sponsors of medical students should also fund their internships.
Despite these challenges, the Health Ministry’s decision continues to be a point of contention among graduates and members of Parliament.
The detailed distribution can be seen in the image below;
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