The Federation for Uganda Medical Interns (FUMI) has issued an ultimatum to the Ministry of Health, demanding the clearance of their three months’ outstanding allowances within the next four days.
The ultimatum, issued by Dr. Bill Adrati, the president of FUMI, warns of a potential strike if the allowances are not settled within four days.
This development comes just six months after the government finally deployed medical interns, ending nearly a year of contention over non-deployment due to financial constraints.
After months of protests and negotiations, the Ministry of Health received clearance in July to deploy 1,901 interns to 58 internship centers nationwide. The statement issued at the time outlined the government’s commitment to deploying interns within the available budget, providing a net monthly allowance of Shs1 million per intern for accommodation and feeding.
Despite this assurance, the latest standoff arises from the delay in the disbursement of allowances, casting a shadow over the successful deployment of medical interns who reported to their respective training centers by August 3.
Responding to the growing tension, Emmanuel Ainebyona, the Ministry of Health Spokesman, attributed the delays to the economic challenges facing the country.
“We are working tirelessly to disburse funds on time, but economic constraints play a significant role in the delays,” he said.