By A group of final-year medical students from various universities across Uganda have staged protests against what they describe as an unfair “no retake policy,” imposed by the newly formed Uganda National Health Profession Assessment Board (UNHPAB).
The students say the policy prevents them from progressing to their final semester if they have any pending retakes from previous semesters a move they argue is unrealistic and discriminatory, especially for those in courses with heavier workloads.
The Uganda National Health Profession Assessment Board was formed after the merger of the Uganda Allied Health Examination Board (UAHEB) and the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Examination Board (UNIMEB). However, students claim the new board is dominated by representatives from the nursing sector, whose course structures differ from those of other health disciplines.
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“The newly merged board has changed our academic guidelines without proper consultation,” said Kajubi Ryan, one of the protest leaders. “We, the Allied Health students, feel marginalized by a system that does not understand our course demands. These new policies are mentally and financially draining students and their parents.”
According to Kajubi, many students have suffered anxiety and depression due to the policy, while others have dropped out of school after failing to clear their retakes in time. He added that sponsors are also withdrawing support, as the delays in academic progression have disrupted initial sponsorship timelines.
Another student, who preferred anonymity, said the policy disregards the workload differences between programs. “We sit for at least six papers per semester, unlike nursing students who take fewer course units. It is unfair to say one retake can hold back your graduation,” the student said.
The protesting students argue that the new policy contradicts existing academic regulations, which stipulate that a student can only be held back if they fail more than 50 percent of their course units in a semester.
They are now calling on the Ministry of Education and Sports to intervene and review the policy, saying it threatens the future of hundreds of health students preparing to join the medical workforce.
Efforts to reach officials from the Uganda National Health Profession Assessment Board for comment were unsuccessful by press time.
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