Medical interns in the three districts of Kampala and Mbarara have today laid down their tools protesting against government’s delay to pay their allowances.
Medical doctors are required to undergo a one year of internship after completing their five year course at the University.
But, government has an obligation to pay them an allowance to cater for their well being. However, interns at Mulago, and Mbarara regional referral hospitals claim they have not received any pay, yet they are being over worked.
Today’s protests in Kampala turned dramatic as police moved to stop angry interns seeking audience with the speaker of parliament Rebecca Kadaga.
These were initially stopped at the service commission offices by heavily armed police as they matched peacefully to parliament. They would later be allowed to continue to the house, where they arrived moments ago.
These were holding placards reading; “Medical interns are not slaves” and many others.
“They are taking intern doctors for granted, we are fighting for our rights. We spend sleepless nights without eating, we work like 36 hours without rest and they still don’t want to pay us” one intern said.
In Mbarara, over 200 interns to the RDC Capt. Martha Asiimwe’s office who promised to deal with their issues immediately.
