Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s court has remanded eight medical interns and health workers arrested during a protest over the government’s failure to pay medical interns.
The eight were arrested on Wednesday, August 12, along Parliamentary Avenue in Kampala while wearing white medical coats and carrying placards demanding payment for medical interns.
They were arraigned before grade one magistrate Rophine Acayo on Friday and charged with being a nuisance on a public road.
The accused are Dr Jamadah Kagahe, 26; Jane Nantege, 25, an intern pharmacist; Lawrence William Mukiibi, 26, a nurse; Nicholas Wamuwaya, 28; Silver Ssengonga, 27; Allan Okwir, 26, a pharmacist; Daniel Kirunda, 33, an intern doctor at Kiruddu hospital; and Ggala Luke, 32, an intern doctor at Kiryandongo general hospital.
According to the charge sheet, the eight allegedly positioned themselves on Parliamentary Avenue in a manner that caused danger or inconvenience to traffic.
The prosecution alleges that they were carrying placards bearing messages including, “Say No to NET Policy,” “No Pay, No Reporting,” and “For the Good of All Ugandans Pay All Medical Interns.”
The accused, who appeared in court wearing clinical coats, denied the charges. They were represented by lawyers led by Yasin Ssentumbwe and Yasin Munagomba of the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative.
The prosecution told court that investigations had been completed and asked for a hearing date. The defence, however, applied for bail, asking the court to release the accused so they could continue with their professional and public service duties.
Court heard that the defence had been unable to submit documents for the proposed sureties through the Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS) because the system was reportedly down.
Ssentumbwe also asked the court to grant the accused bail, arguing that the medical professionals had been introduced by the Uganda Medical Association and the Federation of Uganda Medical Interns.
He said the accused serve in the public interest and asked the court to consider this as it determines their bail application. The court remanded the eight until Monday, August 17, when the bail application will be formally heard.
The remand comes amid growing pressure from medical interns over their payment and reporting arrangements. The interns have been demanding payment and objecting to government policies requiring them to report for internship without remuneration.
They argue that the lack of payment affects their ability to report to health facilities and provide services while meeting their basic needs.
So, there are billions to launch frivolous books pasted onto our children and certainly loads of cash for these drunkard top dogs that sleep in loud bars making noise for the disadvantaged then sleeping in the day and then somehow have unending free-flowing money cruising in government vehicles – they waited for Balam to issue and order of some sanity – just sanity, and yes money to keep pressing and haunting “those opposition guys” including torture, yes to money to keep putting everyone in jail and feeding them …
BUT no money for medical interns and no money for A-Level curriculum, no money for ambulances, no money for educating our children … you get the idea, right?
In other words, on the one hand; who wants to become a Medic or Teacher? And on the other: who wants to be a learner at school or a patient in a Hospital in Uganda (own risk)?
Although these are the most important professions for the wellbeing of the citizens of a country; BUT in Uganda, they are the most risky, neglected underfunded and/or shabbily treated.
In the whole wide world, who in his or right state of mind can still deny that: it is only in Uganda under the Shauriyako (To Whom it Maybe Concern) leadership of our 86-years-old PROBLEM OF AFRICA, Gen Tibuhaburwa (neither our servant NOR employee), where Education and Health/care are bastardized.
And I will never get tired of reminding Ugandans (rich or poor) that: you live, be educated/educate, fall sick and even die at your own risk!
If e.g., at Makerere University Cleaners and/or Messengers, whose only skill/tool of profession are Brooms, Dust Pans, Mops and Bucket, or Delivery Books, are promptly paid more than Shs.1,000,000 (one Million only) per month; BUT what an insult for Brand new Medic Graduates, who spent 5 years to become the citizens’ life-saving professional, are bundled up and shoved under the dirty seats, of a rusty and tetanus infested bed of the Police Pickup Truck, simply because they are demanding for a minimum financial decent facilitation for medical Internship.
After 40 years and counting in power: I wonder, during the First 8-year Republic, the whereabouts of our 86-years-old PROBLEM OF AFRICA, Gen Tibuhaburwa and Cabal, when e.g., throughout the country Dr. Apollo Milton Obote’s (RIP) UPC administration, every year on average; was opening 3 (three) Brand New, fully equipped, stocked with Medicines and 100% staffed HOSPITALS, and complete with fully furnished staff Houses according to ranks and file?