The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has strongly condemned the arrest of medical interns in Uganda, calling for their immediate and unconditional release.
Eight Ugandan medical interns were detained following a peaceful protest on August 12 along Parliamentary Avenue in Kampala, where they demanded payment of their overdue salaries. The interns were charged with causing danger and inconvenience to traffic and remanded at Luzira Prison after their bail hearing was postponed.
KMPDU's Position
KMPDU emphasized that medical interns are vital to healthcare delivery throughout East Africa and should not face punishment for peacefully advocating for fair treatment, timely deployment, and decent working conditions. The union described these demands as legitimate labour concerns rather than criminal acts.
In a statement issued on Sunday, KMPDU called for an end to intimidation, arbitrary arrests, and violence against healthcare workers exercising their rights. It urged the Ugandan government, Ministry of Health, and medical interns to engage in constructive dialogue to resolve the ongoing internship crisis.
Regional Challenges and Solidarity
The union highlighted that the issues faced by Ugandan interns—delayed deployment, unpaid stipends, harsh working conditions, and heavy workloads—mirror challenges confronting medical trainees across East Africa.
KMPDU appealed for regional cooperation to advocate collectively for improved working conditions and expressed solidarity with the Uganda Medical Association (UMA) and the broader Ugandan medical community.
"Healthcare workers should not have to choose between serving patients and defending their basic rights," the union stated, warning that sustainable healthcare systems cannot thrive where professionals are silenced through fear or detention.
