The Uganda Nurses and Midwives Union (UNMU) has urged the government to increase the representation of nurses and midwives at the ministry level, emphasizing that despite contributing 75% to the medical workforce, their voices are underrepresented. During an end-of-year press conference in Mulago, union president Justus Cherope also called for parliamentary representation to ensure their issues receive the attention they deserve.
The profession faces challenges, especially due to the ban on labor exportation while the government absorbs less than half of the 500 to 600 new nurses and midwives entering the workforce annually. Cherope highlighted the surplus of nurses and the limited job opportunities within the country, appealing for the lifting of restrictions that prevent them from seeking employment abroad.
UNMU’s secretary-general, Sister Birungi Annet, noted that many Ugandan nurses and midwives have sought employment overseas by disguising as housemaids. She urged the government to reverse these restrictions to allow professionals to work abroad officially. The union also announced plans to establish a university for specialized training in nursing and midwifery, similar to the specialization opportunities available for doctors, and called for increased remuneration for those who upgrade their qualifications.
