Government has urged doctors reconsider their industrial action, saying they do not have that kind of money to sustain their demands.
Speaking to journalists at Uganda Media Centre, the minister of Health Ruth Aceng advised the striking doctors to instead front their demands through the trade union, since they are mandated to bargain for workers’ pay.
“We operate a cash budget, these demands only work with a budget. We therefore can not start what we can’t sustain,” Ms Aceng said.
She however hinted that government will maintain the allowance for intern doctors and also pay housing allowance for senior officers.
She urged the striking doctors to wait for the resolutions of the salary review commission instituted by the Ministry of Public Service.
Aceng applauded health workers who remained on duty despite the industrial action by their colleagues.
“They are patriotic,” she said.
Meanwhile the minister of State for Public Service, David Karubanga says the doctors’ strike is championed by self seekers.
The comments come against the heels of Museveni’s statement to the Uganda Medical workers Association (UMA) in which he suggested that investing in medical and diagnostics equipment is more sustainable than catering for recurrent salary demands.
