A total of 1,327 medical interns have appealed to President Museveni, seeking his intervention in a growing crisis that has left them without deployment. The interns delivered their petition to the President during the National Youth Day celebrations at Asuret Primary Teachers College in Soroti District.
Joseph Socrates Odongo, the pre-interns coordinator, voiced his concerns over the situation, highlighting that out of 2,706 applicants, only 1,263 have been deployed, leaving more than half of the qualified medical interns in limbo. Odongo emphasized that completing an internship is crucial for full registration, licensing, and subsequent professional employment in the medical field.
“The Ministry of Health recommends a ratio of one specialist per four interns during training. However, many sites are operating with nearly a one-to-one ratio due to the government’s hesitation to deploy us,” Odongo explained.
Allan Kerim, another affected pre-intern, pointed out that the lack of specialists should not delay the deployment of interns, particularly for those in fields such as nursing, pharmacy, and midwifery, where specialist supervision is less critical. He urged President Museveni to direct the Ministry of Health to deploy the remaining interns promptly. The interns also requested an additional Shs18 billion in funding to support their deployment and sought a meeting with the President to discuss their concerns in detail.
State Minister of Health for General Duties, Ms. Anifa Kawooya Bangirana, responded to the crisis in a letter to the Speaker of Parliament dated August 6, 2024. She explained that the ministry strives to maintain a standard of one specialist supervising four interns to ensure quality training. However, last year’s deployment of 1,901 interns, far exceeding the system’s capacity, led to significant challenges, with some specialists overseeing as many as six interns at once.
“The current placement prioritizes graduates who completed their courses in early 2023 and before. We have also made special considerations for government-sponsored dental surgeons and pharmacists from the 2024 cohort, as these professions are in short supply,” Kawooya stated.
The Ministry of Health has been allocated Shs35 billion for the current financial year to cover the costs of medical interns and senior house officers. According to Kawooya, the annual cost of deploying one intern, including allowances and PAYE tax, amounts to Shs15 million.
