President Museveni orders crackdown on health sector absenteeism and drug theft in Uganda

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni addressed the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Parliamentary Caucus on 7 August 2026 at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala. He announced a fresh crackdown on corruption, absenteeism and medicine shortages in public health facilities, warning that health workers who fail to report for duty will be dismissed and replaced by qualified young medical graduates.

Museveni said the government would review the issue through the Cabinet and that he would personally inspect facilities to stop patients being sent to private drug shops for medicines. He also raised concerns about the Parish Development Model, local‑government staffing, rising non‑communicable diseases and broader crime, urging legislators to adopt resolutions on these priorities.