Category: Daily Monitor

Health officials in Busoga Sub-region have raised concern over persistent water-borne diseases, saying poor sanitation and inadequate access to safe water continue to contribute to preventable illnesses and deaths, particularly among children under five.

The concerns were raised during a stakeholder meeting organised by Jinja Regional Referral Hospital to discuss the role of community leaders in promoting improved water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) practices.

Dr Alfred Yayi, a senior executive consultant at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, urged political, religious, cultural and community leaders to intensify public awareness campaigns on hygiene and sanitation.

“We need community leaders to educate the public on the importance of safe water, proper sanitation and good hygiene practices. Their voices are respected and can help change behaviours that contribute to disease outbreaks,” Dr Yayi said.

Data presented at the meeting showed that diarrhoeal diseases remain a major public health challenge. According to the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH), diarrhoea accounted for about 10 percent of deaths among children under five in Uganda in 2022.

In Busoga, more than 40 percent of outpatient visits in 2023 were linked to WASH-related illnesses, including diarrhoea, cholera and typhoid.

Mr Joseph Oposhia of the Busoga Regional Emergency Operations Centre said several disease outbreaks reported in the region have been linked to poor sanitation and contaminated water sources.

He cited cases of cholera, viral conjunctivitis, mumps and food-borne illnesses reported in Jinja and Luuka districts in 2024, which investigations associated with the use of contaminated water from shared sources.

Mr Oposhia said open defecation remains common in some communities, particularly on islands in Namayingo District and parts of Jinja City, increasing the risk of disease transmission.

Jinja City Health Officer Dr Fredrick Isabirye said health authorities are also monitoring cases of schistosomiasis, commonly known as bilharzia, in Kisima I and Kisima II islands and neighbouring communities along the shores of Lake Victoria.

More than 100 stool samples have been collected for laboratory testing to confirm infections and guide treatment, he said.

“The parasite enters through the skin when a person comes into contact with infested water and, if left untreated, can cause severe complications,” Dr Isabirye said.

Assistant Resident City Commissioner Paul Balidawa called on local leaders to enforce hygiene measures at household level, including regular handwashing, proper waste disposal and protection of water sources.

He also urged residents to boil drinking water to reduce the risk of infection.

Health officials warned that inadequate investment in water infrastructure, sanitation facilities and public awareness programmes continues to undermine efforts to control preventable diseases across the region.

According to available data, safe water coverage in Busoga remains below 65 percent, compared with the national target of 85 percent. Sanitation coverage is estimated at below 50 percent in several districts, while about 30 percent of households lack access to improved sanitation facilities and handwashing stations.

A 2021 Ministry of Health assessment further found that only 38 percent of health facilities in the region had an on-site basic water supply, while fewer than 25 percent had functional handwashing facilities at points of care.

More than 500 villages across five sub-counties in Namisindwa District are facing increased risk after large ground cracks widened following heavy rains, damaging homes, farmland and infrastructure.

The affected areas include Buwabwala, Bumumali, Tsekululu, Mukoto and Luwa Town Council, where residents reported fresh destruction after rainfall on Wednesday triggered landslides and flooding.

District Chairperson Emma Bwayo said an assessment conducted with local leaders found that the cracks were expanding, increasing the threat to lives and property.

“The cracks are expanding rapidly, and the risk to lives and property is very high. We are working with local leaders to assess the most urgent needs and coordinate support,” Mr Bwayo said.

Residents said several homes have developed deep fissures, while large sections of farmland planted with maize, beans and bananas have either been buried by landslides or washed away by floodwaters.

Timothy Nashimolo, a resident, said some families have already been displaced while others remain in areas considered vulnerable to further ground movement.

Local leaders are calling for emergency relief assistance and longer-term measures to address recurring landslide risks in the mountainous district.

Environmental expert David Okot warned that continued rainfall could worsen the situation if no intervention is undertaken.

Mr Bwayo said the district was compiling a report for submission to central government seeking emergency support and long-term mitigation measures.

“It is time for the government to treat this matter with the urgency it deserves. We should not wait for people to lose their lives before taking action,” he said.

Betty Nandutu, the district councillor representing Tsekululu and Bungati and secretary for social services, said many residents were spending nights in fear as floodwaters continued to enter homes.

“If government does not intervene quickly, hunger will become another disaster facing our people,” Ms Nandutu said.

She added that the destruction of crops could undermine household incomes and recovery efforts under the Parish Development Model, as many families rely on farming as their primary source of livelihood.

Several affected residents, including Khaukha Cassim, Makati Patrick and Elvis Wamono, said they had nowhere to relocate despite living in homes threatened by widening cracks.

“We are sleeping in houses that could collapse at any time. Every day we fear for our lives, but we have nowhere else to go,” Mr Wamono said.

Namisindwa lies within the Bugisu sub-region, which has experienced repeated landslides over the past decade. Districts including Bududa, Bulambuli, Sironko and Namisindwa have recorded numerous disasters that have killed hundreds of people and displaced thousands.

Among the deadliest incidents was the 2010 landslide in Nametsi village, Bududa District, which killed more than 100 people. Other major landslides occurred in Bududa in 2012 and 2018, while Bulambuli District recorded fatalities in both 2023 and 2024.

The government launched a resettlement programme in 2010 targeting communities living in high-risk areas. However, many households remain in landslide-prone zones, while some relocated families have struggled to adapt due to limited access to suitable agricultural land.

As the world marks World Environment Day today under the theme ‘Inspired by Nature: For Climate, For Our Future,’ we are reminded that nature remains humanity’s greatest source of survival, hope, and renewal.

The air we breathe, the water we drink, and the climate that sustains life all depend on how well we protect the environment today. Yet, despite nature’s generosity, human activities continue to threaten the very ecosystems that support our lives.

One of the greatest environmental challenges facing our communities today is poor waste disposal such as the careless dumping of polythene bags and plastic waste.

In many urban centres and surrounding communities, rubbish is irresponsibly thrown into drainage channels, roadsides, wetlands, and open spaces. When rains fall, this waste is carried into streams, rivers, lakes the very water sources that millions of people depend on for daily life.

What may appear to be a simple act of littering carries devastating consequences for the environment. Polythene bags do not easily decompose.

Instead, they accumulate in water bodies, clog drainage systems, pollute ecosystems, and destroy aquatic habitats. Lakes that once symbolized beauty and life are increasingly becoming overwhelmed by floating waste and pollution caused by human negligence. This growing environmental burden does not only affect nature; it directly affects people and essential services.

The National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), which relies heavily on lakes and other water bodies as major sources of water supply, faces increasing pressure in treating polluted water. As populations continue to grow and urbanization expands, more waste finds its way into the lakes, making water treatment more difficult, costly, and demanding.

The presence of plastics, polythene bags, sewage, and other rubbish in lake water forces water treatment plants to work harder to ensure that safe and clean water reaches homes, schools, hospitals, businesses and more.

More chemicals, more energy, and more resources are required to purify water that has been contaminated by irresponsible human activities.

More electricity is consumed to operate treatment equipment for longer hours. More manpower and maintenance are needed to continuously remove waste that clogs intake points and damages machinery.

This not only strains NWSC operations but also threatens the long term sustainability of clean water supply for future generations.

The financial cost of treating polluted water continues to rise, yet the root cause often begins with simple irresponsible actions such as littering and poor waste management.

Funds that would otherwise be invested in expanding water services, improving infrastructure, and enhancing customer service are instead diverted towards dealing with preventable pollution challenges.

In the long run, environmental degradation threatens NWSC’s operational sustainability but not limited to the country’s ability to provide affordable and safe water to its citizens.

However, there is still hope if collective action is taken. Conserving the environment begins with simple but responsible choices made every day. Proper disposal of waste, reducing the use of polythene bags, recycling plastics, protecting wetlands, and planting trees are all actions that contribute towards restoring and preserving nature.

Every individual has a role to play in protecting the environment, regardless of age, profession, or status. As we commemorate this important day, let us reflect on the relationship between human behaviour and the health of our environment.

Nature continues to provide us with water, food, and life itself, but it can only continue doing so if we protect it from pollution and destruction.

The future of clean water, climate resilience, and sustainable development depends on the actions we take today.

Let us therefore become responsible stewards of the environment by protecting our lakes, preserving our ecosystems, and embracing practices that secure a cleaner and healthier future for generations to come. Because when we protect nature, we protect our climate, our water, and ultimately, our future.

Four weighbridges previously operating in Bunyoro’s sugarcane-growing areas have been returned to Victoria Sugar and relocated to the company’s factory in Luwero District, a move local leaders say marks a significant step in the fight against rampant sugarcane theft.

The weighbridges were handed over on Friday, June 5, by Masindi District Police Commander Pensive Tukasiima following directives from Uganda Police Headquarters ordering their return to their rightful owner.

The development follows a recent Memorandum of Understanding signed between Kinyara Sugar Limited and Victoria Sugar in Kampala under the guidance of Balaam Barugahara.

Under the agreement, Victoria Sugar will continue purchasing cane from farmers who are not contracted to Kinyara Sugar, while Kinyara will maintain relationships with its contracted outgrowers.

The two companies also agreed to end the use of roadside weighbridges that had increasingly become controversial within the sugar industry.

For years, leaders, farmers and millers complained that some roadside weighbridges had evolved into trading points for illegally harvested cane.

Farmers frequently reported losing mature sugarcane to thieves who would harvest it at night and quickly dispose of it through informal trading networks.

The problem became so widespread that local leaders in Masindi, Kikuube and Hoima repeatedly raised concerns about organized theft syndicates targeting sugarcane plantations across the region.

Francis Tumwine, a community mobiliser in Masindi District, welcomed the decision to relocate the weighbridges away from Bunyoro.

‘The weighbridges have been returned to their rightful owner, but stakeholders have agreed that they should no longer be used in a manner that facilitates illegal cane trade and theft,’ Tumwine said.

‘What farmers and leaders want is an organised sugar industry where genuine growers benefit from their sweat and criminals have no market for stolen cane. The agreement between Kinyara and Victoria Sugar is a positive step in that direction.’

Tumwine said taking the weighbridges to Victoria Sugar’s factory in Luwero effectively closes a chapter that had generated tension among farmers, millers and local leaders.

Several farmers interviewed by this publication also welcomed the new arrangement.

Peter Byaruhanga said cane theft had become a serious threat to livelihoods in the region.

‘There were farmers who would spend more than a year nurturing their cane only to find sections of their gardens harvested by thieves. Anything that helps stop that problem is good for us,’ Byaruhanga said.

Another farmer, Sarah Nakato, said the agreement between Kinyara and Victoria Sugar provides greater clarity for growers.

‘Now farmers know the system. If you are contracted by Kinyara, your cane goes to Kinyara. If you are not contracted, Victoria Sugar can buy your cane. That removes a lot of confusion,’ she said.

Local leaders say the new arrangement is expected to reduce disputes over cane ownership, improve coordination between millers and strengthen protection for farmers’ investments.

The return of the weighbridges and their relocation to Luwero comes at a time when Bunyoro’s sugar industry is seeking to balance the interests of investors and farmers while stamping out criminal activities that have undermined confidence in the sector.

For many growers across Masindi, Kikuube and Hoima districts, the latest developments signal a shift towards a more structured sugar market where legitimate farmers are protected and cane theft is increasingly difficult to sustain.

Tanzania gave Africa Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, the pan-African statesman who championed African unity. Even when his East African federation dream did not materialise, Nyerere never abandoned the vision of East African political unity.

Now, Tanzania has given the East African Community its new secretary general, Stephen Patrick Mbundi, who assumed office on April 25. The profound question facing him is whether he will draw inspiration from Nyerere’s pan-African legacy to advance the East African socio-economic liberation cause.

Mbundi is not an outsider to Jumuiya. In the last 20 years, he has risen through ranks in Tanzania’s Ministry of EAC Affairs from a principal economist to director (political, defence and security affairs) and more recently, to permanent secretary.

Having led Tanzania’s delegations in technical and ministerial sessions across three Kenyan and three Tanzanian presidencies, he carries institutional memory that few current EAC officials possess. He has built relationships across partner state bureaucracies and understands EAC’s technical and political architecture and its intersection with national politics.

East Africans are counting on that depth of experience and institutional memory to deliver tangible results.

The question is whether Mbundi uses this experience as foundation for innovative problem-solving, or as a constraint that dismisses new ideas with “we’ve tried that before.”

Heads of State decried the “massaging” of their decisions by bureaucrats and ministers, delaying implementation. Indeed, some EAC members practice what many diplomatically call “thorough consultation”.

In practice, this is a consultation carousel, where decisions circle endlessly through technical committees and ministerial meetings but never arrive at action.

The question is whether Mbundi will align with the gate keeping officialdom that explains why integration initiatives “can’t work,” or become a reconciling facilitator, advising how to make them work faster. The new EAC Development Strategy provides Mbundi with a clear mandate: full implementation of the Common Market, operationalisation of Monetary Union institutions, finalisation of the Confederation constitution making process and institutional reform.

The question is whether Mbundi will facilitate full implementation of joint commitments or defend Tanzania’s delay tactics from Arusha. On institutional reform, he will have to choose between focusing on fundamental strategic issues such as strengthening the Secretariat’s capacity, or consuming Ministers’ time with trust-eroding administrative and personnel battles.

Strategic transformation requires evidence-based decision-making anchored in established institutional procedures.

These priorities depend on political will from the Summit, Ministers and national officials. The Secretary-General administers and implements rather than co-decides. He cannot force partner states to act against their perceived interests. But this is not an excuse for inaction. The Secretary-General directs what issues are prioritised in background papers that inform ministerial discussions.

That determines which challenges receive attention, how they are framed, which partner state concerns are amplified or reconciled, and whether the proposals arrive ready for approval or requiring ‘further consultation’.

This is why the facilitator versus gatekeeper choice matters absolutely. Even when political will seems limited, a transformative secretary general will prepare technical groundwork, identify win-win outcomes and create conditions for political courage so that ministers’ approvals become easier.

Mbundi also assumes office flanked by committed integrationists, President Museveni and Council Chair Rebecca Kadaga. Both are credible political champions who want integration to succeed. This support raises expectations significantly.

The Community is under close observation. When integration stalls, fingers mostly point to Arusha.

Every year on June 5, the world commemorates World Environment Day, a moment for reflection and renewed commitment to protecting the planet that sustains us.

This year, as communities across the globe mark the day under the theme ‘Climate Change,’ the occasion serves as a timely reminder that climate change is no longer a distant threat. It is a present reality whose impacts are increasingly evident in our weather patterns, ecosystems, economies, and livelihoods.

Uganda is among the countries already experiencing the consequences of a changing climate. Rising temperatures, prolonged dry spells, erratic rainfall, floods, landslides, and declining agricultural productivity have become more frequent and severe.

For a country whose economy and food systems remain heavily dependent on climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture, climate change poses significant risks to sustainable development and poverty reduction efforts.

The recently released June-August 2026 Seasonal Climate Forecast by the Ministry of Water and Environment provides a stark illustration of these challenges. According to the forecast, most parts of Uganda are expected to receive near-normal to below-normal rainfall, while temperatures are projected to be warmer than average during the June-August period.

The forecast further indicates that central and western Uganda are likely to experience predominantly drier-than-normal conditions, while northern and eastern regions are expected to receive near-normal to below-normal rainfall.

These projections carry important implications. Reduced rainfall and elevated temperatures can negatively affect crop yields, livestock production, water availability, and public health. Communities that rely on rain-fed agriculture may face increased vulnerability to food insecurity, while water stress could place additional pressure on households, businesses, and ecosystems. Such conditions underscore the urgent need to strengthen climate resilience at all levels of society.

Yet climate change is not merely an environmental issue. It is also a development, economic, health, and social justice challenge. The burden of climate impacts often falls disproportionately on the poorest and most vulnerable populations, including women, youth, and rural communities.

Addressing climate change therefore requires a whole-of-society approach that integrates environmental sustainability into national planning, investment decisions, and community development initiatives.

On this World Environment Day, there is a need to move beyond awareness and towards action. Government institutions, the private sector, development partners, civil society, academia, and local communities must work together to accelerate climate adaptation and mitigation efforts.

This includes investing in climate-smart agriculture, expanding renewable energy access, restoring degraded ecosystems, protecting forests and wetlands, strengthening early warning systems, and promoting sustainable consumption and production practices.

The Ministry of Water and Environment has commendably enjoined stakeholders to utilise climate forecasts for strategic planning and informed decision-making. Such science-based information is critical for enhancing preparedness, protecting livelihoods, and reducing climate-related risks.

As we commemorate World Environment Day 2026, the message is clear: Climate change demands collective responsibility and decisive action. The choices we make today will determine the resilience of our communities and the sustainability of our development tomorrow.

Protecting the environment is not only an ecological imperative; it is an investment in Uganda’s development, peace, security, and the well-being of generations to come.

Every year on June 5, the world observes World Environment Day. This day has been celebrated annually since 1973 and is essentially to promote environmental awareness. This year, the theme is “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future.”

Which begs the question. Will today be just another 24hours of official observance with no commitment to action and change, no serious reflection on how daily choices degrade the very environment that hosts us, feeds us, and a lot more?

Will there be any commitment from governments, organisations, and most important of all, individuals to continually be aware that daily seemingly insignificant life choices and actions directly affect the environment?

Simple and daily activities, such as how we choose to dispose of our garbage, make a big difference. Being aware that encroachment on wetlands and degradation of forests only hurts us in the long run, and choosing to collectively say no to anything that degrades the environment.

Pledging to evict encroachers or keep our streets clean and improving waste management systems should not just be rhetoric and political posturing just to garner votes and then be thrown by the wayside immediately elections are over; it should be a new normal.

Making perfectly drafted laws on environment management is not worth a dime if there is no political will to consistently and fairly apply those same laws without fear or favour, regardless of what glamorous development or investment projects might have to be shelved if implementing them necessitates the abuse of the environment in one way or another. We must safeguard the environment, if not for us, then let it be for the future generations.

Executing our industrial and commercialisation plans and goals shouldn’t be at the expense of the environment.

Before the sun sets today, we should all take a minute to stop and reflect on how we are contributing to either the conservation or degradation of the environment and how we can be better citizens of earth.

It starts right there with an individual mandate before it can be a priority in communities, organisations, and governments.

How will you grow tourism if the life of the natural resource is not guarded jealously? When did you last plant a tree? Was there a plan to nurture those trees to maturity, or was it all showbiz and photo moments to achieve seemingly more important goals and to tick politically correct boxes?

This World Environment Day, let’s commit to being the difference when it comes to conserving the environment.

The police in Amudat District are holding an Anaesthetic Officer at Amudat Hospital for theft of government drugs.

The 42-year-old suspect was picked up on Friday from the staff quarters following an intelligence-led search operation, which led to the discovery of several assortments of medical supplies from his residence.

The recovered items include eight bottles of Sodium Chloride (Normal Saline), one bottle of Ringer’s Lactate, one box of Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test kits, one box of surgical gloves, twenty pieces of Ceftriaxone injection, and two bundles of Zinc Oxide.

Suspicion arose when the staff was seen carrying a sack from the facility, prompting a follow-up search, which led to the discovery and his subsequent arrest.

Moroto Region Police Spokesperson, Mr Mike Longole, confirmed the arrest, saying that a case of theft of government medicine has been registered at Amuat Central Police Station, where the suspect is also being held.

“The police are still establishing the value of the drugs before we send the file to the Attorney General for sanctioning, ” Mr Longole said.

The nomination of Dr Lawrence Muganga as State Minister for Internal Affairs has thrust an otherwise little-known immigration procedure into the public spotlight, with many Ugandans seeking to understand what it takes to renounce foreign citizenship. The debate intensified after it emerged that Dr Muganga, who has been nominated for a ministerial position, initiated the process of voluntarily renouncing his Canadian citizenship on June 1 through Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Documents seen by this newspaper indicate that Dr Muganga wrote to the Chief Citizenship and Immigration Control Office of IRCC seeking to renounce his Canadian citizenship under Section 9 of Canada’s Citizenship Act. His decision has sparked widespread public discussion, particularly regarding how long the process takes and whether one must physically appear before Canadian authorities for the renunciation to become effective. The Ministry of Internal Affairs spokesperson, Mr Simon Mundeyi, said the process is relatively straightforward and begins with an online application.

According to Mr Mundeyi, an applicant is required to access the appropriate renunciation form from the Canadian government’s website, complete it with personal details and reasons for seeking to renounce citizenship, and submit it to the relevant authorities. ‘The applicant fills in basic biodata, including names, employment details, passport information and the reasons for renouncing citizenship,’ Mr Mundeyi said in an interview yesterday.

After submission, the applicant is required to pay a processing fee of 450 Canadian dollars, equivalent to about Shs1.2 million.

‘Once the payment is made, the applicant waits for approval. After approval, they are required to surrender their Canadian passport to the Canadian Embassy or Consulate, and the renunciation process is then deemed complete,’ he explained. The timeline for approval varies depending on the circumstances surrounding the application. Mr Mundeyi said some applications can be approved within days, while others may take several months depending on the reasons for renunciation and the level of scrutiny required.

‘We have had cases where applicants are approved within three days, especially where the reasons do not raise security concerns,’ he said.

He added that applications linked to political participation in Uganda are generally less sensitive than those involving security-related appointments. ‘If the purpose is to contest for office in Uganda, that is political and not particularly sensitive. But if someone is renouncing citizenship in order to join security agencies or occupy highly sensitive positions, authorities may take longer to conduct due diligence,’ Mr Mundeyi said.

No personal appearance

The clarification comes amid reports suggesting that renouncing Canadian citizenship requires a mandatory personal appearance at a Canadian embassy and that applicants are given a six-month period to reconsider their decision. Mr Mundeyi dismissed such claims. ‘The procedure does not require someone to physically appear at the embassy or consulate to initiate the process. The application is submitted through the prescribed channels. The only physical requirement comes after approval when the person is surrendering the passport,’ he said.

However, immigration experts note that approval is not automatic. According to Mr Mundeyi, applications may be approved, deferred or rejected depending on the applicant’s circumstances. ‘An application may be rejected if authorities believe the person is trying to evade criminal prosecution or other legal obligations in Canada,’ he said. He added that Canadian authorities typically conduct background checks to establish whether an applicant has committed offences, owes government-backed loans or has other outstanding obligations.

‘The due diligence process seeks to establish whether there are criminal cases, unpaid obligations or any other issues that may affect the application,’ he said. Canadian law sets several conditions that must be met before citizenship can be renounced. An applicant must first prove that they are a Canadian citizen and also demonstrate that they either hold or will acquire citizenship of another country if the renunciation is approved. The law is designed to prevent individuals from becoming stateless.

Applicants must also be at least 18 years old and must understand the legal consequences of giving up Canadian citizenship. In addition, they must not be considered a threat to Canada’s security or be involved in a pattern of criminal activity. Another key requirement is that the applicant should not ordinarily reside in Canada at the time of application. The minister responsible for citizenship matters may, however, waive some of these requirements on compassionate grounds.

Individuals who renounce Canadian citizenship lose all rights and privileges associated with that status. Should they wish to return permanently, they would be required to apply for permanent residency. Those seeking to visit, study or work temporarily may also need to obtain the appropriate visas. The law further provides that a person cannot renounce citizenship if Canadian authorities have already initiated proceedings to revoke that citizenship under Sections 10 or 10.1 of the Citizenship Act.

A section of health professionals has called on the government to suspend implementation of the National Education and Training for Health Policy 2025, arguing that key stakeholders were not adequately consulted during its development.

The policy, developed by the Ministry of Education and Sports in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, seeks to reform health workforce training and address human resource gaps in Uganda’s healthcare system.

However, professional associations representing doctors, pharmacists, nurses and medical interns say the policy contains contentious provisions, particularly on internship training, and should be withdrawn pending wider consultations.

Speaking during a weekly public engagement organised by the Uganda Law Society on June 4, Dr Stephen Lutoti, secretary of the Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda (PSU), said the policy lacked adequate stakeholder input and clear implementation timelines.

“Our concern is not to be misunderstood. We reject the policy and say its implementation must be suspended,” Dr Lutoti said.

“First, there was inadequate consultation. Second, the policy offends the doctrine of legitimate expectation. You cannot impose new requirements on people after university because that was not part of the agreement when they enrolled.”

Dr Lutoti also objected to provisions that classify interns as students.

“Interns are not students because they already hold degrees. We oppose implementation of the internship proposals until stakeholders have another opportunity to discuss and agree on the best approach,” he said.

Concerns were also raised about provisions under Objective Five of the policy, which seeks to improve the welfare of medical interns.

Critics argue that the commitment is inconsistent with the suspension of the Shs2.5 million monthly allowance previously paid to medical interns.

Uganda Medical Association president Dr Frank Asiimwe criticised the policy, saying it failed to reflect the realities faced by interns.

“I was an intern 30 years ago and I know what they go through. An intern is not a student and therefore requires facilitation,” he said.

Dr Asiimwe added that medical students already undergo numerous assessments during their training and should not face additional barriers during internship.

Dr Patrick Odong, vice president of the Association of Graduate Nurses and Midwives of Uganda, said financial constraints are preventing many graduates from undertaking mandatory internships.

“We have graduates who cannot afford accommodation, transport and feeding during internship. The policy is not well grounded. Interns should be remunerated,” he said.

Frank Onyango, president of International Pharmacists in Uganda and a current intern, said internship requirements impose additional financial burdens on graduates.

“Universities do not graduate students until they complete and clear internship, which means additional tuition costs. Interns should also be protected while practising, including through temporary licences,” he said.

Dr Jacob Muwada of the Federation of Uganda Medical Interns urged government to provide funding for interns, saying delays in allowances have affected morale.

“Interns’ allowances are being withheld without consent under the pretext of investigations. We went to court but got no help,” he said, calling on the Uganda Law Society to intervene.

The government has yet to publicly respond to the concerns raised by the professional bodies.