Every shilling put into a medical intern comes back to the common Ugandan almost immediately. A mother is reviewed. A child is monitored. A wound is drained. A casualty patient is resuscitated. A ward is covered at night. A regional referral hospital survives another shift.
The ordinary Ugandan does not meet a ministerโs safari day allowance in the emergency room. They do not meet a Permanent Secretaryโs chauffeur in theatre. They meet the intern.
So when government says Shs1 million for a medical intern is too much, the question is simple: too much compared to what?
Too much compared to $850 per night abroad?
Too much compared to Shs 475,000 for one night away from station?
Too much compared to phone allowance, safari day allowance, housing subsidy, vehicle facilitation, gratuity and medical cover?
Or too much because the person asking is young, tired and easy to bully?