The Ugandan government has stepped in to address mounting anxiety among medical students following reports that changes to internship facilitation could leave some trainees without financial support during their hospital training period.
Health Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi clarified that students under government sponsorship will continue to receive full support throughout their internship, dismissing fears that the programme had been abruptly cut.
He explained that graduates from public universities, including Makerere University, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Gulu University, Kabale University, and other government-funded institutions, remain fully covered under the existing arrangement.
The minister said the confusion was largely fueled by misinformation circulating on social media, which had created unnecessary panic among students preparing to enter internship.
According to him, the government has not scrapped intern facilitation but is instead reviewing how best to manage support for students, particularly those who are privately sponsored.
He noted that Cabinet has directed the Ministry of Health to study the financial requirements of extending assistance to privately sponsored interns, including those from both public and private universities.
Discussions are ongoing about possible welfare measures such as lunch allowances and other forms of facilitation to ensure fairness and smooth training experiences for all interns.
Dr. Baryomunsi emphasized that the government remains committed to supporting medical training while balancing the growing number of graduates with the country’s available financial resources.
