KAMPALA, Uganda — Medical interns and senior house officers across Uganda have announced a coordinated strike set to begin June 20, 2026, to protest a contentious government policy that restructuring medical training and threatens to phase out internship allowances.
The strike notice, issued by Concerned Medical Interns and Supporters under the banner United for Fair Treatment and Dignity, states that participants will withdraw services from all regional and national referral hospitals. The medical workers say they will not return to work until the government reforms its training framework and pays outstanding allowances.
The standoff stems from the National Education and Training for Health Policy, which seeks to absorb the mandatory 12-month clinical internship into the university undergraduate curriculum. Under the framework defended by health ministry officials, medical training would extend from five to six years, and degrees would be awarded only after the completion of the internship. This effectively reclassifies interns as students rather than pre-registered professionals, eliminating their entitlement to monthly government stipends.
Organizers of the industrial action have outlined four main demands: immediate payment of all intern doctors, a comprehensive review and reform of the current internship policy, transparent engagement between the Ministry of Health and intern representatives, and improved overall welfare and working conditions.
Medical associations, including the Uganda Medical Association, have warned that the policy will place a heavy financial burden on families and compromise healthcare delivery. Frontline medical professionals estimate that interns provide up to 70 percent of healthcare services in public referral hospitals, frequently managing overnight shifts, emergency admissions and maternity wards.
The Ministry of Health has previously defended the structural changes as a necessary measure to maintain high medical standards and ensure patient safety, citing instances where graduates failed clinical assessments despite holding medical degrees.
However, the growing tension has prompted government officials to promise dialogue. The newly appointed health minister, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, recently committed to reviewing the controversial reforms. Speaking to journalists following the State of the Nation Address, Baryomunsi acknowledged the critical role interns play in public health facilities and urged the medical community to remain calm while the government assesses available resources and stakeholder feedback.
Despite these assurances, the strike organizers maintain that a strike is necessary to prompt immediate action. They argue that requiring young medical professionals to work in overstretched public hospitals without compensation directly threatens the quality of patient care nationwide.
