In a recent meeting with post-medical interns at State House Entebbe, President Yoweri Museveni announced that the Ugandan government does not have enough funds to sponsor medical internships. Addressing 210 post-medical interns who had completed a 10-day patriotism and ideological training at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi, Museveni proposed a solution that has sparked significant debate.
The President suggested that the burden of funding medical internships should fall on the same sponsors who supported the medical students during their education. “Who pays for the internship? Some people are saying that the government must pay, but I think that is risky because the government would pay if it had money, but it doesn’t have enough money since it has got a lot of things to do like roads, security, etc.,” Museveni remarked.
He further expressed concern about relying solely on government funding, which could delay or disrupt the careers of young doctors. “I don’t think it is okay to tie the future of our young doctors with government funding because it may delay or it may not be there,” he added.
The proposal comes amid growing frustration among medical interns who have faced delays in receiving government funds necessary to start their internships. The Commissioner for Health Services, Dr. Henry Mwebesa, recently acknowledged that the Ministry of Health lacks the resources to effectively deploy and supervise interns. The Uganda Medical Internship Committee has scheduled placements from August 2024 to July 2025 for graduates who completed their courses in 2023 and earlier, but the process has been mired in uncertainty due to financial constraints.
Museveni’s suggestion to continue sponsorship through private or previous sources aims to alleviate the pressure on government resources. “Why don’t we agree that a person who has qualified as a medical doctor after five years in medical school continues with the internship but with sponsorship from the person who sponsored him in the first place?” Museveni proposed.
He also emphasized the need for the government to hire more consultants to supervise interns, ensuring that the quality of medical training is maintained. Additionally, the President encouraged medical professionals to support efforts to increase the healthcare budget to create more posts in health centers, thereby absorbing more doctors into the public system.
Museveni also offered an alternative path for medical graduates, inviting them to join the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) or the police as medical professionals, where their skills would be highly valued. “Joining UPDF and police as medical professionals is music to my ears. You are still young and energetic. I can guarantee you, you are most welcome in the army and police anytime. Even now, I can recruit you here,” he concluded.
