By Christine Karungi
Kampala: According to a letter intercepted by our spy, President Yoweri Museveni has directed Prime Minister, Robinah Nabanja to intervene in medical interns’ matters and pay them a monthly allowance of Shs 2.5 million.
According to the President, the current allowances paid to interns are not enough to meet their requirements.
This comes few months after the medical interns went on strike in May 2021 accusing the government of not addressing their demands. Then, interns squeezed the government to increase their monthly allowance from Shs 750,000 to Shs 5 million and also provide housing for them.
Following several meetings held between representatives of the interns, members of the Uganda Medical Association, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Ministry of Health officials and the president, the strike was called off in June with the promise that the interns would get a salary increment.
“It was noted that medical interns earn a net pay of Shs 750,000 which is not enough to meet basic needs. It is against this background, that I direct that all medical interns be paid half of the recommended pay of the fully appointed officers in their respective professions starting July 2021. For intern doctors, this should be Shs 2,500,000,” the letter reads in part.
”In this regard, I am, therefore, directing you to implement this resolution in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Finance,’ the President wrote in a letter dated August 9 to the Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja, who is the leader of government business.
