Medical interns to go on strike effective 1st February 2023

The Medical interns under their umbrella of Federation for Uganda Medical Interns(FUMI) have vowed to lay down their tools effectively from 1st February 2024.

These say, they want the responsible ministry to fulfill the presidential directive that instructed them to pay the medical interns half of the money that is currently being paid to the medical officers.

“It was noted that medical interns earn a net pay of 750,000 Shillings 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 the respective professions starting July 2021. For intern doctors, this should be 2,500,000 Shillings i.e. half of the 5,000,000 Shillings a medical officer is to earn,” president Museveni stated in his letter dated 9th Aug 2021

It’s upon the above background that the Medical Interns led by their president Bill Adrati have expressed their frustrations with the responsible ministry over failure to execute the presidential directive.

“Following the resolution by the 4th general assembly of the medical interns that was held on Wednesday 17th January 2024, and the earlier notice issued by the federation to this government on 26th November 2023. We communicate on behalf of all the medical interns in the country as resolved that an industrial action by laying down of tools shall commence effective 1st February 2023.” said the president of the federation Adrati

He also stated that the strike shall go on until the government clarifies it’s position on the illegality of breaching the presidential directive including the reinstatement of the directive that has been in implementation since July 2021 where the current figures of allowances have been a clear sign of illegality.

He also revealed how the previous strikes of deployment forced many medical interns to fly to the outside countries like Kenya and Tanzania in search for the internship placements in their medical facilities due to the uncertainties in their country.

“when we continue to promote such environments which do not appreciate the level of services that this group of human resource offers, then very many will be left with no option but to opt for greener pastures out of the country.” He stated

He additionally noted that the act may also lead to the production of unpatriotic, demotivated and unprofessional HealthCare workers, hence urging the government to organise the relevant authorities to ensure that they respond decisively to reinstate the presidential directive.