The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has condemned the recent arrest and assault of eight medical interns in Uganda who were peacefully advocating for improved working conditions.
In a statement released on August 16, 2026, KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Bhimji Atellah expressed deep concern over the arbitrary detentions and violence inflicted by Ugandan security agencies on healthcare workers exercising their rights.
KMPDU’s Demands to Ugandan Authorities
- Immediate and unconditional release of all detained medical interns and healthcare workers.
- An end to intimidation, harassment, and unlawful arrests by security forces.
- Engagement in meaningful dialogue between the Ugandan government, Ministry of Health, and affected interns to address grievances.
- Promotion of regional solidarity and collective advocacy for decent working conditions for healthcare professionals across East Africa.
Dr. Atellah emphasized that healthcare workers should not be forced to choose between patient care and defending their basic rights, warning that sustainable healthcare systems cannot thrive under repression.
Regional Implications
The KMPDU’s intervention highlights growing unease within East Africa’s medical community regarding the treatment of junior healthcare staff raising workplace concerns. The union’s stance sends a call for solidarity beyond Kenya’s borders, framing the arrests as a threat to healthcare workers’ rights throughout the region.
KMPDU, which represents Kenyan medical practitioners, pharmacists, and dentists, has a history of advocating for improved conditions, having engaged in labour disputes over pay and work terms in Kenya’s public health sector.
This condemnation follows other incidents of violence against healthcare workers, such as the recent attack at Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital, underscoring ongoing challenges to medical professionals’ safety and wellbeing.
