Medical school in Uganda


As of 2021, 11 universities in Uganda offer medical schools. Admission to medical school requires the candidate to have attained a Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education as well as proficiency in Biology or Zoology, Chemistry and Physics at A-level standards. Training leading to the degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery lasts five years. Major examinations are conducted after the first, second and fifth year, with additional evaluations after each clinical rotation. After successful completion of the fifth year, candidates complete a year of internship under the supervision of specialists. Postgraduate training is available at Makerere University School of Medicine and other Public and Private Universities in a number of medical and surgical disciplines. The training takes three to four years and leads to the Master of Medicine degree. The East, Central and Southern Africa College of Health Sciences is nowadays another alternative postgraduate training pathway in Uganda, such as Membership and Fellowship of the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa ; as well as in Internal Medicine through the East, Central and Southern Africa College of Physicians and the College of Obstetrics and Gynecology of East, Central and Southern Africa for Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Medical schools

there are eleven recognized medical schools in Uganda.

Public universities

Private universities

Admission

Admission to medical school in Uganda requires the candidate to have attained the pre-requisite minimum score on the A-level national examinations leading to the award of the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education or UACE, administered by the . Proficiency in Biology or Zoology, Chemistry and Physics at A-level standards are requirements for entry into Ugandan medical schools.

Medical training

Training leading to the award of the degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery lasts five years, if there are no re-takes.

Examinations

There is a major examination after the first year. If the candidate does not pass, the candidate will repeat first year. Another major examination is given after second year. A failing candidate will have to repeat second year. After each clinical rotation, the candidate is examined and failing candidates are required to repeat that rotation during the next vacation period.
The last major examination is the final 5th Year MBChB examination. This is divided into three parts:
The final year clinical examinations in each of the four clinical disciplines are attended by an "External Examiner", often a professor of International or Regional repute, from a foreign medical school. The examiners arrange it so that the excelling students and those who are on the verge of failing are seen by the External Examiner in at least one of the clinical face-to-face encounters. So if you are a candidate and you go before the "External Examiner", it usually means that you are either excelling in your field or you are on the verge of failing that subject.

Internship

After successfully passing the final 5th year examinations, one is awarded the degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. A year of internship in a hospital designated for that purpose, under the supervision of a specialist in that discipline is required before an unrestricted license to practice medicine and surgery is granted by the Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council. Six months of the internship must be spent in a medical discipline and another six months in a surgical discipline.

Internship hospitals

The following hospitals are designated "Internship Hospitals" in Uganda, provided there is a specialist in the required field willing to supervise the intern at the particular hospital:

Postgraduate training

Specialization training, lasting three years,, leading to the award of the degree of Master of Medicine in the particular discipline is available at Makerere University School of Medicine in the following disciplines:
Makerere University School of Public Health, located on Mulago Hill, offers the degree of Master of Public Health following a 22-month period of study which includes field work.
The degree of Doctor of Philosophy is awarded following a period of instruction, research and examination, in select clinical disciplines. A recognized master's degree is required prior to admission into the PhD program.