By Our Staff Reporter

ENTEBBE, UGANDA — October 9, 2026
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has pledged Shs125 billion to the Uganda Medical Association (UMA) Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisation (SACCO) to help health workers access affordable loans, pursue further training and establish businesses.

The commitment was made on October 9, 2026, during a meeting at State House Entebbe with medical interns and leaders of the Uganda Medical Association, led by UMA President Dr. Frank Asiimwe.

The proposed fund is intended to strengthen the financial position of health workers by enabling them to borrow money for professional development, specialisation and income-generating activities.

President Museveni described the proposal as a worthwhile investment, noting that the funding would be a one-time intervention rather than a recurring government expense.

“Regarding the issue of wanting Shs125 billion where the doctors can borrow and, if possible, employ themselves, that one I will support. This is not recurrent. It is a one-time process. Even that is a smart move, and I will support it,” Museveni said.

The President explained that the fund would also support doctors seeking to upgrade their qualifications through private institutions, while the government would continue identifying and financing specialisations required within the public health system.

Museveni Addresses Medical Internship Concerns

During the meeting, Museveni also addressed concerns surrounding medical internships, including allowances, professional training and the process of graduating from medical school.

He criticised the policy linking graduation as a medical doctor to the completion of an internship, arguing that the two processes should be handled separately.

The President said the requirement was a mistake that needed to be corrected to avoid unnecessary delays for medical graduates.

“I think it was a mistake. I think it was wrong for the Ministry of Education to say that you don’t graduate as a medical doctor until you have done this housemanship course. It was a mistake to mix the two, and it will be corrected,” he said.

On the long-standing disagreement over medical interns’ allowances, Museveni questioned why sponsors who had supported students throughout their medical education would withdraw financial assistance during the one-year internship period.

He, however, said discussions on the matter would continue, taking into account the welfare of interns and the government’s financial capacity.

The President indicated that the government would pay the available Shs2 million in allowances this year as consultations over the broader remuneration issue continued.

“I am not closing the debate, but let’s weigh these issues out and think about them,” he said.

The disagreement over internship allowances has previously led to strikes by medical interns, affecting service delivery in several regional referral hospitals.

In 2021, Museveni announced a monthly allowance of Shs2.5 million for medical interns. The government later reduced the amount to Shs1 million, citing financial constraints.

Medical interns have continued to raise concerns about delayed payments, working conditions and their classification as students despite providing services in health facilities.

Museveni stressed that government decisions must be guided by affordability and sustainability, arguing that commitments should match the resources available.

UMA Welcomes the Shs125 Billion Commitment

Dr. Asiimwe welcomed the President’s pledge, saying the proposed financial support could improve access to credit and strengthen the welfare of health workers.

He noted that the Shs1 billion previously extended to the UMA SACCO by the President in 2017 had grown to Shs13 billion, which he cited as evidence of the potential of the initiative to support health workers financially.

The UMA president also called for stronger public-private partnerships in medical training, deployment, professional development, accountability and quality control.

He emphasised that the government should recognise doctors working in both public and private health facilities, noting that both groups contribute to healthcare delivery across the country.

Dr. Asiimwe further revealed that approximately 300 medical interns had not received their allowances, despite reporting for duty and providing services in health facilities.

He called for improved arrangements to ensure interns, residents and fellows receive their payments and are supported in their professional development.

The association also requested that the government establish two face-to-face meetings with its leadership annually to discuss priorities and challenges affecting the health sector.

Doctors Seek Better Career Progression and Working Conditions

Beyond the proposed SACCO funding, UMA presented several recommendations aimed at improving the working conditions and career development of medical professionals.

The association proposed the introduction of three additional professional ranks—Chief Consultant, Principal Consultant and Senior Consultant—to strengthen career progression for doctors below the Director General level.

It also urged the government to increase staffing levels in referral hospitals to 75 per cent by the next general election and establish a retirement package for health workers comparable to those provided to members of the security services.

Dr. Asiimwe further appealed for government support to establish regional medical hubs with capacities of between 50 and 100 beds. The facilities would provide practical training, mentorship and professional guidance to young doctors.

The association also called for tax exemptions for health workers and duty-free access to essential items used in delivering healthcare services.

Museveni expressed support for tax relief measures and proposed exploring a duty-free arrangement for items that contribute directly to saving lives and improving health services.

Government Highlights Progress in Medical Training

The Minister of Health, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, thanked the President for his continued support towards improving Uganda’s health sector.

He highlighted the expansion of medical training institutions, noting that the number of universities training doctors had increased from one to 13.

Baryomunsi also cited government interventions in immunisation and the fight against HIV as contributors to improvements in public health, including life expectancy and reductions in infant and maternal mortality.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Diana Atwiine, said the ministry continued to consult stakeholders but had to prioritise activities according to the funds allocated to it.

She explained that funds for training medical interns are disbursed to the institutions responsible for their training and that the ministry was considering ways to improve payment arrangements.

Atwiine added that consultations on outstanding concerns were ongoing and that the ministry was preparing a paper for Cabinet consideration.

Medical interns welcomed the President’s commitment and pledged to continue working with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders to improve healthcare delivery.

If implemented, the proposed Shs125 billion UMA SACCO fund could provide health workers with greater access to affordable financing while supporting further training, private enterprise and professional development. The commitment also comes amid broader discussions on medical interns’ welfare, staffing shortages and the need to strengthen Uganda’s healthcare system.