Plans to recruit the doctors from the Caribbean island nation are in final stages amid backlash from civil society organisations and Uganda Medical Association.

Mr. Museveni on Tuesday said his government wants to bring doctors from Cuba to "bring discipline to these crooked behaviours and selfish doctors".

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He accused Ugandan doctors of trying to blackmail the government when they held a countrywide industrial strike over poor renumeration and working conditions.

The president also blamed the doctors of being unprofessional and badly behaved for boycotting patients in hospitals "thinking they would create a crisis".

"Many doctors refused to leave their patients. It was only the few bad ones that boycotted patients thinking they would create a crisis for Uganda but they failed. I said I can't be blackmailed, if necessary I will import doctors to bring discipline to these crooked behaviours, selfish people -- these are the ones we can't tolerate," he told celebrants during national Labour Day celebrations in Sembabule.

The 73-year-old sparked light on civil servants demanding for better renumeration saying "he has been working for Uganda for the last 53 years for no or little pay," adding that he has never complained for better pay despite earning "only UGX3.6m as president".