I will sack all medical workers on strike - Museveni

President Museveni has vowed to sack all medical doctors currently on strike, for failing the National Resistance Movement principle of managing scarce resources.

Museveni said that the striking doctors will soon be replaced by people who are hungry for jobs if they fail to use the scarce available resources the country is offering.

"I will not accept Ugandans to die, doctors who don't want to work will be sacked," he said.

The president made the statements while at a public rally on Thursday in Burahya County, Kabarole District. He had was on the invitation of the area member of parliament, Margaret Muhanga.

He further threatened to close all radio stations misleading the public with false information, adding that despite radios being owned by individuals, they are supposed to regulated by the responsible government body.

At the same function, Museveni handed over Shs50million to Kihondo and Kijura sacco for development. He also graced a brand new ambulance donated by the Margret Muhanga to Bukuku Health centre IV aimed at easing health services in the area.

Museveni’s remarks come against the heels of a flopped mediation between medical doctors under their umbrella Uganda Medical Association(UMA) and a select committee of ministers tasked to look into their demands yesterday.

A total of 6 ministers who are part of the cabinet taskforce meant to dialogue over the medical workers’ concerns including; Dr.Ruth Aceng(Ministry of Health),David Bahati(Finance),John Chrysestom Muyingo(Education), David Karubanga(Public service),William Byaruhanga(Attorney General) and Mwesigwa Rukutana(Deputy Attorney General) yesterday made a deadlock when doctors insisted they will not return to work despite their pleas.

In the same meeting, Dr Ekwaro Obuku, the president of the UMA accused government of treating the medical workers as young kids by intimidating them.

“Intimidation must have stopped yesterday. If you are telling us that you have plan B, we have up to plan C,” the vocal Obuku said.

Last year, Museveni fired 14 health workers at Nakawuka Health Centre III in Mpumudde Village, Wakiso town council, for alleged poor attitude, absenteeism and laziness.  They were however reinstated following a report by Wakiso District Chairperson, Matia Lwanga Bwanika, which indicated that the affected staff were arbitrarily fired by Mr Museveni, contrary to the principles of natural justice, which grant any one a right to a fair hearing.

The doctors are not the only government workers on strike, prosecutors are also up in arms demanding for more pay. It remains unclear if Museveni intends to sack them as well should they refuse to return for duty.

In 2013, Museveni told striking lecturers at Makerere University to join farming if they were tired of teaching at the current terms. The lecturers had gone on strike asking for a 100 percent pay raise