UPC urged government to reconsider the welfare of medical interns within the broader context of strengthening Uganda’s health system, arguing that realistic measures are needed to restore stability to the medical profession and reduce the frequency of industrial action.

The spokesperson said the new arrangement breaks with previous practice, under which government catered for these necessities and paid monthly internship allowances. She added that it also undermines the Collective Bargaining Agreement, which provided for enhanced allowances and better welfare for health workers.

Akena referred to historical statements by President Museveni acknowledging the destruction of food supplies and the destitution of about 2.7 million people during that period. He argued that the loss of cattle deprived communities of daily nutrition, household income, school fees, draft power, and soil fertility, leaving effects that continue to be felt today.

Akena criticized the government for prioritizing other matters over child welfare and called for a holistic approach to development that includes safety, skills, and greater exposure for school-going children.

“According to World Health Organization, stunting has a lifelong consequence. Children who are stunted are more likely to experience failure to reach their physical potential,” Akena said.

Oyat criticised the outcomes of the January 2026 general elections and said the upcoming local council elections present another opportunity for citizens to elect leaders who will protect their rights and promote development.

“Any person who has carried him as the party leader shall be individually responsible for their harmful actions unless he or she has been given that mandate by the party leader’s conference, through the rightful process,” Oyat said.

“The UPC therefore respectfully calls upon His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, pursuant to Article 91(3)(b) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, to withhold assent to the Bill and return it to Parliament for further scrutiny, wider consultation, and reconsideration,” the statement read in part.