Medical interns call off strike as negotiations with govt start

Medical interns under their umbrella Federation for Uganda Medical Interns (FUMI) have decided to call off their nationwide sit-down strike after fruitful talks ensued with the government.

Medical interns had on 17th May 2021 annouced a sit-down strike over government’s failure to honor the promise of increasing their gross pay to Shs 3 million from Shs 950,000 per month.

However, the federation on Thursday, issued a statement advising all the medical interns to resume work.

According to FUMI’s president Dr. Nabwire Mary Lilian, the decision followed a meeting held on 26th May 2021 between the leadership of medical interns, Uganda Medical Association and top management of Ministry of Health where several agreements were reached.

During the meeting, it was agreed that the Ministry of Health joins forces with the medical interns to push for a supplementary budget since the final budget is already concluded, so as to increase financing and improve the welfare of medical interns.

“It was also agreed that the Ministry of Health and the medical interns leadership write officially to the office of the prime minister to intervene and request for a supplementary budget to be passed to cater for the increment of medical interns allowances following parliamentary recommendations that were made and were brought to the attention of the prime minister through a letter addressed to his office by parliament right before the parliament was dissolved”- Nabwire indicated.

It was also communicated that the allowance for the months of April, May, and June has already been released and has reached the hospital accounts and that all interns are expected to be receiving that money anytime soon as they wait for the next financial year.

Nabwire says the decision to suspend the strike is in the best interest of patients and completion of the internship training in the stipulated time as negotiations for enhanced pay go on.

“This is therefore to inform and encourage all medical interns nationwide to resume work as the FUMI leadership follows up with the relevant stakeholders on the matter and continues to engage in negotiations”- Nabwire said.

“We appreciate all medical interns nationwide for standing together during this call for advocacy which has attracted the attention of the right audience to address our concerns and FUMI Leadership will be at the forefront to see that the negotiations happen and an amicable solution is reached in the shortest time possible,” she added.