Uganda: Govt Gives Striking Medical Interns One-Week Ultimatum As Boycott Escalates
[Nile Post] The Ministry of Health has ordered medical interns to report to their designated training hospitals by August 14 or forfeit their internship placements, deepening a standoff with interns who have vowed to continue boycotting deployment over what they describe as poor welfare and working conditions.
The Uganda government has issued a one-week ultimatum to striking medical interns, demanding they report to their designated training hospitals by August 14 or lose their internship placements. This move comes as the Federation for Uganda Medical Interns (FUMI) maintains a boycott of the internship program, citing poor welfare and working conditions.
The boycott began on August 3, 2026, and the government's directive states that any intern not reporting by the deadline will forfeit their placement. FUMI accuses the Ministry of Health of failing to address longstanding concerns, despite commitments from high-ranking officials in Parliament. The federation warns that the disruption of service delivery in public hospitals could escalate if the government does not respond to their demands.
The Ministry of Health, however, insists that the official reporting date remains August 3 and emphasizes that interns who do not report by August 14 forfeit their internship placements. The ministry also prohibits transfers or swaps of internship stations and warns interns against engaging with individuals promising to facilitate deployment changes.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
