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Kampala International University graduated 1,844 students at its 33rd ceremony as leaders pushed back against a government proposal to extend medical training to six years. The university’s VC and Board Chair also called for a special tax regime for higher institutions and a national health insurance scheme.
Kampala International University graduated 1,844 students at its 33rd graduation ceremony on 14 June 2026, with university leaders using the platform to challenge the government’s newly proposed medical training and internship policies.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Muhammad Ngoma raised concern over a Ministry of Health directive requiring universities to retain medical students for six years until they complete internships.
“We ask the government to rethink the medical training policy, especially where the ministry requires universities to keep medical students for six years,” Prof. Ngoma said.
“Our curriculum ends at five years, and after five years we should be able to graduate them. So we appeal to the government to leave internship the way it has been,” he added.
Prof. Ngoma also urged the government to introduce a special tax regime for higher learning institutions to support research, infrastructure, and innovation.
“We appeal to the government to think of a special tax regime for higher institutions of learning because they play a very big role. Elsewhere they have a special tax regime, and this is what we are advocating for to support research, infrastructure, innovations, and create a good learning environment,” he said.
Chairman of the KIU Board of Trustees, Al Hajji Dr. Hassan Basajjabalaba, vowed to lead a delegation to negotiate the policy with President Yoweri Museveni. He criticized moves to scrap allowances for medical interns, noting that a previous presidential intervention had saved 50% of their original UGX 2,000,000 monthly stipend.
“Now I think they want to abolish it completely, which is wrong. Kenya has over 6,000 internship students and they are paid. In Uganda, we have about 2,000,” Dr. Basajjabalaba said.
He accused some officials of trying to protect public institutions at the expense of private universities, and suggested introducing pre-entry exams before internship as a quality control measure, similar to pharmacy training.
Dr. Basajjabalaba also noted that Uganda remains the only country in East Africa without a national medical insurance scheme, warning that private investors will continue to withhold funding from healthcare until a comprehensive insurance policy is established.
Representing the government, 2nd Deputy Prime Minister and Chief Guest Hon. Dr. Chrispus Kiyonga attributed high graduate unemployment to poor course selection.
“Unemployment among young graduates is because they select courses that aren’t marketable,” Hon. Kiyonga said. He urged students to target fields like artificial intelligence, machine learning, dental science, cybersecurity, and digital forensics.
He defended the NRM administration for creating a peaceful, investor-friendly environment with adequate electricity and infrastructure, and advised graduates to adapt to a tech-driven economy and avoid reckless lifestyles.
“I urge the graduates to refrain from reckless and dangerous lifestyles such as drunkenness and sexual promiscuity. It will be a great disgrace if you waste your lives after such sacrifices have been made,” Kiyonga said.
The ceremony also recognized top performers. Overall best student Choda Raphael Daniel said resilience and passion drove his success.
, https://eastafricanwatch.net/dr-kiyonga-appeals-to-kiu-graduates-to-avoid-reckless-and-dangerous-lifestyles-such-as-drunkenness-and-sexual-promiscuity/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=dr-kiyonga-appeals-to-kiu-graduates-to-avoid-reckless-and-dangerous-lifestyles-such-as-drunkenness-and-sexual-promiscuity
