Shs 50.18 Billion for the Speaker & Deputy Speaker allowances vs Shs 21.6 Billion for 1,000 Intern Doctors: A Question of betrayal of National Priorities
The debate about funding Uganda's intern doctors is often framed as a question of affordability. Yet a look at the 2026/27 budget allocations tells a different story.
According to published parliamentary budget figures, the Office of the Speaker is allocated approximately Shs 28.5 billion, while the Office of the Deputy Speaker is allocated about Shs 21.68 billion in allowances. Together, these two offices alone account for Shs 50.18 billion in allowances for the office of the speaker ( 2 individuals vs 1,000 intern doctors )
For comparison, paying 1,000 intern doctors a net allowance of Shs 1.8 million per month for an entire year would cost approximately Shs 21.6 billion.
In other words, the annual allowance budget for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker's offices combined is more than double what is required to remunerate 1,000 intern doctors who provide frontline medical services in hospitals across the country.
The issue, therefore, is not whether Uganda lacks the resources. The issue is one of priorities. The same 2 officers have elephant like fat salaries and retirement benefits attached to their offices monthly
When young qualified licensed doctors who work long hours in emergency units, maternity wards, operating theatres, and outpatient clinics are told there is no money to support them, yet billions are readily available for administrative and political offices luxury & nagutory expenditures, Ugandans are justified in asking difficult questions.
A nation's budget is a reflection of its priorities and valu8. If healthcare is truly a priority, then the welfare, dignity, and remuneration of intern doctors should be treated as a national investment rather than an avoidable expense.
The question is simple: if Shs 50.18 billion can be allocated to just two political offices as allowances, why is Shs 21.6 billion for 1,000 frontline intern doctors considered unaffordable?
Dr Mirembe Joel
SG emeritus