Medical interns will stop receiving government allowances starting August, 2026, as a new policy folds internship into the formal university education system.
Government currently pays medical interns a monthly allowance of Shs2.5 million, raised from Shs1 million in 2021 after a presidential directive.
Accordng to new directive only government-sponsored students will get in-kind support like meals, accommodation, and transport, and only if the hospital can’t provide it.
Dr Ronnie Bahatungire, Commissioner for Clinical Services at the Ministry of Health, said the reform fixes a long-standing gap where previously, universities graduated students before they finished practical training in hospitals, creating accountability problems.
According to Bahatungire universities will now send names of eligible final-year students to professional councils then the council will issue provisional licenses, allowing students to start supervised hospital placements as interns and during that time Interns will be assessed during clinical rotations.
“Only after passing will they graduate and receive full licenses to practice. The one year of internship provides the bridge between theory and practice,” Bahatungire said.
The Health Ministry says money saved will go toward training specialists, an area where Uganda has critical shortages. It also plans to accredit more of the 74 existing internship centers and hire more supervisors to ease overcrowding.
Amon Nkwasiibwe, President of the Federation of Uganda Medical Students Associations, opposed the cutting of interns allowances saying internship is the most demanding stage, with shifts lasting up to 18 hours covering emergencies and overnight duty.
“It is difficult to imagine how trainees will sustain themselves without adequate facilitation,” Nkwasiibwe said warning that financial stress could affect both intern welfare and patients.
Dr Frank Asiimwe, President of the Uganda Medical Association, questioned the legality of requiring an extra year of unpaid clinical work before graduation and more stakeholders sensitisation before effective implementation.
“The policy subjects medical graduates to an additional year of intensive clinical work while removing the facilitation that has traditionally enabled them to meet basic living costs,” Asiimwe said.
