Andy Lusa Spire @andy_lusa - Twitter Profile

19 days ago

Same People. Same Struggle. Different Side. Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng and Dr. Chris Baryomunsi were once medical interns and leaders of intern advocacy in Uganda. As highlighted in the image, Dr. Aceng, as an intern leader in 1994, protested over poor food provided to interns, while Dr. Baryomunsi, as an intern leader in 1995, led a strike demanding better pay for medical interns. At the time, medical interns enjoyed several benefits, including government-facilitated deployment to internship sites, free accommodation, meals, and a monthly allowance. Following the 1995 intern strike, intern remuneration was reportedly increased for the subsequent cohort. Today, both leaders sit at the highest levels of health-sector decision-making. Yet, the same system they once challenged now appears determined to remove the very incentives and allowances that supported them during internship. Current policy proposals suggest a future where medical interns may be required to work without pay. It is difficult for many young doctors to understand this contradiction. How can leaders who once fought for better welfare now defend policies that strip away those same protections for the next generation? Medical internship is not a classroom exercise. It is full-time service delivery under supervision, often involving long hours, night calls, emergency care, and significant responsibility for patient lives. Expecting interns to provide this essential service without remuneration raises serious questions about fairness, workforce motivation, and the value placed on young health professionals. Yesterday they protested. Today they write the policy. The question many young doctors are asking is simple: If these incentives were necessary for interns in 1994 and 1995, why are they considered unnecessary for interns in 2026? #PayAllMedicalInterns #SaveLives Dr. Mirembe Joel X: @MirembeDr @eddympuuga @bbstvug @newvisionwire @cbsfm_ug

MirembeDr's tweet photo. Same People. Same Struggle. Different Side.
Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng and Dr. Chris Baryomunsi were once medical interns and leaders of intern advocacy in Uganda.
As highlighted in the image, Dr. Aceng, as an intern leader in 1994, protested over poor food provided to interns, while Dr. Baryomunsi, as an intern leader in 1995, led a strike demanding better pay for medical interns.
At the time, medical interns enjoyed several benefits, including government-facilitated deployment to internship sites, free accommodation, meals, and a monthly allowance. Following the 1995 intern strike, intern remuneration was reportedly increased for the subsequent cohort.
Today, both leaders sit at the highest levels of health-sector decision-making. Yet, the same system they once challenged now appears determined to remove the very incentives and allowances that supported them during internship. Current policy proposals suggest a future where medical interns may be required to work without pay.
It is difficult for many young doctors to understand this contradiction. How can leaders who once fought for better welfare now defend policies that strip away those same protections for the next generation?
Medical internship is not a classroom exercise. It is full-time service delivery under supervision, often involving long hours, night calls, emergency care, and significant responsibility for patient lives. Expecting interns to provide this essential service without remuneration raises serious questions about fairness, workforce motivation, and the value placed on young health professionals.
Yesterday they protested. Today they write the policy.
The question many young doctors are asking is simple: If these incentives were necessary for interns in 1994 and 1995, why are they considered unnecessary for interns in 2026?
#PayAllMedicalInterns #SaveLives
Dr. Mirembe Joel
X: @MirembeDr
@eddympuuga @bbstvug @newvisionwire @cbsfm_ug

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