Uganda Medical Association Suspends Planned Strikes

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Dr. Herbert Luswata
Dr. Herbert Luswata, the Secretary General of Uganda Medical Association (UMA) addressing members in the meeting. Courtesy photo

The Uganda Medical Association (UMA) has announced the postponement of the originally scheduled nationwide strike that was scheduled to begin on Tuesday, August 1, 2023.

Dr. Herbert Luswata, the Secretary General of UMA said that, the strike was suspended when the government sent more than 1,800 medical interns to 58 facilities across the country.

“The earlier planned industrial action which was supposed to start on 1st August if interns are not deployed has been suspended for now,” Luswata said.

He stated that, the leadership of the medical community decided to pursue a Presidential direction to raise the allowances for Senior House Officers and medical interns from UGX 1million to UGX 2.5million each.

“Uganda Medical Association together with members of the Elders’ Forum and colleagues from the Graduate Nurses Association and Pharmacists agreed to use other channels to engage with government to collect pending demands to see medics improve on their standards of living,” he added.

Uganda Medical Association held the consultative meeting on Saturday, July 29, 2023.