KAMPALA– The Uganda Christian University (UCU) on Friday launched its School of Medicine, becoming the fifth higher institution of learning in the country to offer degrees in medicine and other health sciences.
Speaking at the launch of the UCU School of Medicine (UCUSoM) at the Archbishop’s Gardens in Namirembe, a Kampala suburb, Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda said they have no doubt the university will produce quality medical doctors since they have always done the same in other fields.
“Uganda clearly needs more doctors but not just more doctors in terms of numbers. We need doctors who are properly trained, who have integrity and will consider the patient first instead of other considerations,” Mr Rugunda said.
UCUSoM, which was accredited by the National Council of Higher Education (NCHE) in March, started admitting students on Bachelors of Medicine, Surgery (MBchB) and Dental Surgery (BDS) in August.
Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, the Health minister, urged the new medical students to have a good attitude and work ethic towards their profession.
“The challenge we have with the new qualified medical doctors is their attitude, work ethics and behaviours. We have been having so many strikes. So it’s my prayer that the students coming out of this school should not be part of this[strikes] we have been seeing but will come out to develop our country,” Dr Aceng said.
Dr Aceng said the new medical school will increase the number of medical interns that government receives annually to over 1700 from the current 1200.
Rev. Canon Dr John Senyonyi the Vice Chancellor UCU also urged the students to devote themselves to the Christian values and virtues that the university stands for.
The other Universities training undergraduate medical students include; Makerere, Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU), Kampala International University (KIU), and Kabale University. Uganda Martyrs University (UMU) produces postgraduate medical doctors only.
