By Spy Uganda
The swift resolution of the admission crisis at the Law Development Centre (LDC), which saw 1,643 law students secure places for the January 2025 intake, has stirred frustration among 1,271 medical interns who remain without placements due to the government’s failure to release UGX 18.813Bn in allowances. This disparity has raised concerns, especially among the medical interns, who feel neglected while the law students’ issue was quickly addressed.
During a parliamentary session on Thursday 26th September, 2024, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa brought attention to the plight of the medical interns after Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka updated Parliament on the LDC issue. Tayebwa remarked, “That is one group sorted, now we have medical interns. Yesterday, many medical interns were saying, ‘Because most of you are lawyers, you rush to handle issues of lawyers.’ Is there any progress for medical interns?”
Attorney General Kiwanuka admitted that he was not fully versed in the medical interns’ situation but assured Parliament that discussions within the Cabinet were ongoing and a resolution was forthcoming. He acknowledged that the Ministry of Health faces challenges in placing medical interns due to insufficient trainers, noting that “unlike law students, where one instructor can handle 100 students, the medical field requires a more hands-on approach.”
Kiwanuka’s report on the LDC issue included a letter from LDC Director, Dr. Pamela Tibihikirra-Kalyegira, announcing that the 1,643 students left out of the September 2024 intake would be admitted for a second intake starting in January 2025. He emphasized that this decision came after the government released additional funds to facilitate the students’ admissions. “By close of business today, all applicants will receive notifications via the email they provided during their application,” Kiwanuka said.
However, as the situation for the law students improves, medical interns remain in limbo. Their delayed placements have caused anxiety, with many fearing they will miss out on crucial training opportunities. Deputy Speaker Tayebwa revealed plans to engage Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja to expedite a solution for the interns.
Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi also weighed in on the challenges law students face beyond their time at LDC. He highlighted the difficulties lawyers experience even after completing their legal practice diploma, particularly the lengthy and convoluted process of enrollment as advocates of the High Court. Ssenyonyi urged the Attorney General to address these systemic hurdles to make the journey to full legal practice smoother.
LDC, which has three centers in Kampala, Lira, and Mbarara, admitted 1,260 students for the first intake in September 2024 but had to carry over 800 applicants from the previous year due to limited capacity. The addition of the January intake aims to mitigate this overflow.
Despite this reprieve for law students, the medical interns’ situation remains unresolved, with many wondering why their issue lags behind in government priority.
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