President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has pledged UGX 125 billion in seed capital for a medical doctors’ Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisation (SACCO) and announced plans to exempt medical personnel from paying taxes in a move aimed at improving their welfare and strengthening healthcare delivery.
The President also challenged medical professionals to shift Uganda’s healthcare system towards preventive medicine, arguing that greater investment in disease prevention would reduce the financial burden of treating illnesses that could be avoided.
President Museveni made the announcements on Friday, November 13th, 2026, while presiding over the 10th Uganda Medical Association (UMA) Grand Doctors’ Conference at Soroti University.
He said the SACCO would provide doctors with access to affordable financing, support further training and improve their livelihoods, addressing some of the financial pressures contributing to moonlighting.
On the proposed tax exemption, Museveni said medical workers deserved similar treatment to security personnel, including soldiers, police and prison officers.
“I have already agreed with them on the tax waiver. We shall exempt medical personnel from paying taxes because we do not tax policemen, prison officers or soldiers. Why, then, should we tax doctors and other medical workers? Let them retain their current earnings,” Museveni said.
The President further argued that Uganda should prioritise immunisation, proper nutrition, hygiene, safe water, sanitation and public health education, noting that about 80 per cent of illnesses in the country are preventable.
He urged district health officers to use local radio stations at least once every two weeks to educate communities about disease prevention and healthy living.
Museveni also directed the government to facilitate the training of at least 200 geriatric specialists, revealing that Uganda currently has only three to four doctors specialising in elderly care. He raised similar concerns about the shortage of paediatric cardiologists.
He cautioned universities against commercialising medical education at the expense of professional standards, warning that poor-quality training threatens healthcare delivery.
Meanwhile, the UMA President, Dr. Frank Asiimwe proposed a Strategic Compact for Health Sector Reforms to strengthen collaboration between government and medical professionals. He said the association, which brings together nearly 15,000 doctors across 14 branches, remained committed to improving accountability, professionalism and service delivery.
Asiimwe also announced that UMA had awarded Museveni its highest institutional distinction, honorary membership number UMAHM00001, in recognition of his contribution to Uganda’s health sector.
Vice President Jessica Alupo and medical scholar Professor Francis Omaswa also called for stronger investment in preventive and community-based healthcare, improved medical training and greater public participation in health programmes.
