Uganda’s overall doctor-population ratio is estimated at 1: 6,400 which is by far lower than the standard norm of 1: 1000 recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
This is according to a report released on Tuesday by the Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council (UMDPC).
The council said the East African country has 7,871 doctors with active licenses for the 2026 practice year, which means one licensed doctor serves 6,400 people.
The figures come as the country’s population is projected to surpass 50 million by the end of 2026, raising questions about whether the available medical workforce can keep pace with growing demand for healthcare.
According to data obtained from the council, 10,951 doctors are registered with the council, but only 7,871 have active licenses to practice in 2026.
The council noted that all 7,871 doctors do not serve patients only in government hospitals but also in private health facilities, specialised institutions, academia, research and other sectors, while some may be outside the country.
The challenge is compounded by the uneven distribution of doctors across the country. The availability of other health professionals, including nurses, midwives, pharmacists and laboratory personnel, as well as medicines, equipment and functioning health facilities, also determines how effectively the health system can respond to patients’ needs.
Uganda’s 2024 national population census put the country’s population at 45.9 million. With the population expected to grow beyond 50 million this year, demand for healthcare is also increasing, from maternal and child health services to emergency care, surgery, infectious disease treatment and management of non-communicable diseases.
The pressure is particularly evident in public hospitals, where staffing shortages can leave health workers attending to large numbers of patients. The shortage has also featured prominently in the ongoing dispute between the government and medical interns.
The government deployed 2,417 medical interns for the 2026/27 internship year, but many have not reported to their assigned facilities.
MG/as/APA