The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has commenced a recruitment campaign aimed at enlisting 969 youths from across the Busoga sub-region.
The recruitment drive was officially launched in Jinja City and is set to expand to all other districts within the sub-region over the week.
This initiative is part of a larger national recruitment effort that attracted over 13,000 applicants through the UPDF’s online application portal.
Nathan Tumuhairwe, the public information officer for the UPDF recruitment team in Busoga, said the exercise is progressing well and that the turnout has so far matched expectations.
However, Tumuhairwe acknowledged recurring issues of impersonation, with some individuals attempting to assume identities of others to pass the screening stage.
He also revealed that several applicants presented fraudulent documents that did not align with their actual academic records.
Tumuhairwe explained that, in contrast to previous years where successful candidates were transported in military vehicles, this time, they are expected to make their own way to the training grounds located in Nakaseke.
He added that each successful recruit will be given an accreditation card, which they must present at the Kaweweta training facility for clearance.
Despite the general success of the exercise, some disqualified candidates have raised concerns, claiming they were unfairly dismissed over what they termed as minor issues.
One such candidate, who preferred anonymity, recounted being rejected due to a skin condition. He explained that he had suffered from a ringworm infection during his early teenage years, which had led to skin damage. He said, “I was disqualified on grounds of having a contagious skin disease.”
He added that while he was asked to produce a medical report confirming the nature of his skin condition, he was unable to consult a dermatologist in time.
Other applicants complained of communication barriers, stating they never received confirmation on whether they had been shortlisted.
But Tumuhairwe rejected the claims as unfounded. He asserted, “All the shortlisted candidates were contacted on time and notified about the recruitment centres.”
The UPDF continues to monitor the process closely to ensure that only eligible and qualified individuals are recruited into the force.
