The Uganda Medical Association (UMA) and the Ministry of Health are challenging a recent Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) Tribunal ruling that allows pharmacists and other health workers to hold leadership positions in hospitals previously reserved for medical doctors.
UMA President Dr Herbert Luswata called the 31 July 2025 ruling “misguided,” noting it relied on foreign laws unsuited to Uganda’s health system. The tribunal found that restricting positions such as medical superintendents and District Health Officers to doctors was discriminatory, citing petitions from several health worker associations, including pharmacists and clinical officers.
However, doctors argue the ruling ignores fundamental differences in training. “Pharmacists are licensed by the National Drug Authority, not the Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners’ Council. They lack the clinical experience to safely lead hospitals,” said Dr Frank Asiimwe, Consultant Urologist at Mulago National Referral Hospital. He warned that allowing non-doctors in leadership could endanger patients.
The Ministry of Health has filed an appeal, with Permanent Secretary Dr Diana Atwine criticizing the tribunal for using Kenya’s employment system as a benchmark. Unlike Uganda, Kenyan clinical officers receive surgical training and internships, qualifications not offered to Ugandan cadres.
Dr Luswata and the Ministry maintain that hospital leadership positions must remain with qualified medical doctors to protect patient safety and uphold professional standards.
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The ruling followed petitions by multiple health worker associations, including the Association of Anesthesiologists, Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda, Medical Coders Association, and Uganda Allied Health Professionals Association between March 2023 and April 2024.
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The tribunal argued that restricting leadership roles to medical doctors violated Articles 21 and 32 of Uganda’s Constitution, which guarantee equality and non-discrimination.
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Hospital leadership positions affected include medical superintendents, District Health Officers, and executive directors of hospitals.
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The Ministry of Health contends that these positions require clinical expertise that only medical doctors possess, emphasizing patient safety and professional standards.
