Uganda’s newly appointed Health Minister, Hon. Chris Baryomunsi, has strongly backed calls for all medical interns both government-sponsored and privately sponsored to receive allowances, citing the demanding and full-time nature of their work in the country’s health facilities.
Speaking during an appearance on Capital FM, Baryomunsi argued that medical interns play a critical role in keeping referral and district hospitals running, often handling heavy workloads while providing essential healthcare services.
The minister revealed that he missed the recent Cabinet debate on the matter while away but vowed to engage President Yoweri Museveni to have the issue reconsidered.
“I missed this Cabinet debate while away, but as someone who did internship, private interns must be paid. The workload in our referral and district hospitals is heavy and full-time. I’m engaging the President to re-table this; we must find the money to fund all interns,” Baryomunsi said.
His remarks are likely to reignite debate over the welfare of medical interns, with many stakeholders arguing that all trainees deserve financial support regardless of their sponsorship status.
