Dr. Allen Kabagenyi

Demographer: Reproductive Health: Biostatistics:

[Uganda Medical Association @TheUMAofficial]

Let us be honest: the issue is not that medical interns are too many.
It is not that Uganda has no money.
It is that medical interns are not being treated as a priority.

Consider the choices being made:

• Parliament keeps growing.
Parliament’s budget reportedly doubled to about 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟭. 𝟮 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻. The money going to 529 MPs rose from about 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟰𝟬𝟬𝗯 in 2020/21 to 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟳𝟰𝟰.𝟰𝗯 in 2026/27, an increase of about 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟯𝟰𝟰.𝟰𝗯.
What direct return does this give the common Ugandan in a crowded hospital?

• Two offices alone tell the story.
The Speaker and Deputy Speaker offices had about 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟳.𝟭𝗯 combined in 2020/21. In 2026/27, they stand at about 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟱𝟬.𝟮𝗯 , an increase of about 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟰𝟯.𝟭𝗯 for only two offices.
That increase alone can pay 𝟯𝟬𝟬𝟬 interns 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟭𝗺 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿, with money left.

• Questionable spending continues.
In 2025/26, selected Speaker’s office lines reportedly included 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟮.𝟰𝗯 for foreign travel, 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟵𝟲𝟲𝗺 for fuel, 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟰.𝟴𝗯 for incapacity, death benefits and funeral expenses, and 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟱.𝟮𝗯 for donations. Total: about 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟭𝟰.𝟮𝗯. What lasting public health return does this produce compared with doctors on wards?

• RDC structures are being funded.
Uganda reportedly has 146 RDCs, 170 Deputy RDCs and 432 Assistant RDCs, total 748 officials. Their proposed salary enhancement requires an extra 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟮𝟵.𝟬𝟳𝟵𝗯 every year.
Add the reported 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟯𝟬𝗯 for LC I to LC V political leader facilitation, and that is about 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟱𝟵𝗯. In what way does this benefit the common Ugandan?

• Donations are funded.
State House donations reportedly consumed 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟳𝟱𝟭𝗯 over seven financial years. In 2023/24 alone, donations were budgeted at 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟭𝟴.𝟭𝗯, but actual spending reached 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟴𝟬.𝟭𝟴𝗯. If tens and hundreds of billions can be found for donations, how does 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟮𝟰𝗯 to 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟯𝟲𝗯 for over 2,000 medical interns become impossible?

• Health was not protected with the same urgency.
The Ministry of Health vote fell from about 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟭. 𝟲𝟵𝟯 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 in FY2023/24 to about 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟭. 𝟯𝟰𝟰 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 in FY2024/25, a reduction of about 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟯𝟰𝟵𝗯. Even the 2025/26 estimate of 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟭.𝟱𝟲𝟰 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 remains below the 2023/24 level. Yet health is the sector that directly touches mothers in labour, accident victims, children with malaria, emergency patients and families in public hospitals.

Now compare:

• 2,000 interns × Shs1m × 12 months = 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟮𝟰𝗯 per year
• 2,500 interns × Shs1m × 12 months = 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟯𝟬𝗯 per year
• 3,000 interns × Shs1m × 12 months = 𝗦𝗵𝘀 𝟯𝟲𝗯 per year

Even using the Ministry of Health’s own gross figure of Shs15.6m per intern per year, the reported 2,706 eligible interns would require about Shs42.2b. That is still small compared with what is being found for political comfort and administrative expansion.

That money is not a handout.

✨ It avails doctors on wards.
✨ It keeps emergency units covered.
✨ It supports maternity care.
✨ It fills staffing gaps in regional referrals.
✨ It protects patients.

So let us stop pretending.

This is not a numbers problem.
This is not a money problem.
It is a priority problem.

Medical interns are doctors under apprenticeship, not free labour!

#InternsNotSlaves

[Arsenal News @ArsenalNews_Hub]

This is Uganda🤔I think we need to get a preseason tour to one of these African countries.

[Carol Prim ❤️🤭 @CarolPrim3]

This must be the most beautiful picture on the internet today❤️

[100.2 Galaxy FM Zzina! @GalaxyFMUg]

Sasii Kaine, daughter of Natasha Museveni and Edwin Karugire, and granddaughter of President Yoweri Museveni, held her wedding today with the son of Lt. Gen. Sam Kavuma,

#ZzinaLifeStyle

[Makerere Advancement Office @MakerereAlumni]

Tomorrow, we host #MakARUA2025!

A gathering of 23 member universities & global partners championing AI for Africa’s transformation.
@Makerere stands proud as a hub for collaborative research.

🕰️: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
🏢: Main Hall, Ivory Tower

#MakererePaternships

[Dr. Allen Kabagenyi @allenka79]

Happy Independence Day Uganda 🇺🇬..

[Makerere University, Department of Popstudies @MakPopStudies]

Dr. Allen Kabagenyi (@allenka79) with UN officials at the workshop — including keynote speaker Mr. Tapiwa Jamba (left), Technical Advisor at @UNFPA, and Mr. William Muhwava, Technical Advisor to UNECA, alongside fellow trainers. A great gathering of minds driving impact. 🌍 #UN

[Makerere University, Department of Popstudies @MakPopStudies]

Dr. Allen Kabagenyi (@allenka79) receiving warm courtesies from delegates of the Republic of China — a testament to shared respect and growing international collaboration. #CART2025 #ResearchTraining

[Makerere University, Department of Popstudies @MakPopStudies]

#HappeningNow: CRVS Applied Research and Training (CART) Workshop | 25–29 August 2025 | Nairobi, Kenya Facilitated by Dr. Allen Kabagenyi (@allenka79) bringing together experts in civil registration & vital statistics for impactful learning and collaboration.
#CART2025

[Dr. Allen Kabagenyi @allenka79]

@MakPopStudies @MakCoBAMS @Makerere @MakerereNews @DICTSMakerere @MakGuild @StatisticsUg A warm welcome to all our freshers Academic Year (AY) 2025/2026.

[Dr. Allen Kabagenyi @allenka79]

Important habits to have a successful life. #lifegoals #achievements

[Dr. Allen Kabagenyi @allenka79]

World Populations Day celebrations at Kayunga. I liked the phrasing “Team Europe”👏👏 .
Continued investment in the population is critical. A Healthy population is the foundation of sustainable economic growth. @MakPopStudies

[UBC UGANDA @ubctvuganda]

WATCH: H.E. Frederieke Quispel, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Uganda @NLinUganda , introduces herself in Luganda leaving President Museveni smiling and amused during World Population Day celebrations in Kayunga.

#UBCUpdates

[Dr. Allen Kabagenyi @allenka79]

@ubctvuganda @NLinUganda World population day celebrations at Kayunga. I liked the phrasing “Team Europe”👏👏

[Dr. Allen Kabagenyi @allenka79]

Greatly honored to have been part of engagement.

[Makerere University, Department of Popstudies @MakPopStudies]

👏

[Makerere University, Department of Popstudies @MakPopStudies]

👏

[TheBetterPath @TheBetterPath_]

4

[𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗦𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗬𝗢𝗡𝗬𝗜 @Ssenyonyiderick]

I am currently watching this movie with two of my sisters, they have been crying since the first ten minutes😳

[Reads with Ravi @readswithravi]

Lessons from Deep Work by Cal Newport:

[George Stern @georgestern]

5 mindsets every top performer has,

And anyone can develop: