MBARARA- Unlike in the past when army jobs in the country were seen as suitable for the poor, uneducated and school drop-outs in communities, today when the Uganda People’s Defence Forces [UPDF] advertises the same jobs, they attract huge numbers of applicants who are graduates and averagely well-off.
This was evidenced on Tuesday and Wednesday when thousands of youth flocked Kakyeka Stadium in Mbarara City to be recruited into the Local Defence Personnel [LDP] under Uganda People’s Defence Force [UPDF].
However, the majority of the potential recruits were sent back home after the army officers handling the recruitment exercise raised the number required in that area.
Some of those that could not be absorbed into LPD told theCooperator that they wanted to join the army to earn a living but also serve the nation diligently.
“I was not happy with the way I was rejected because I presented everything that it takes to join,” one of the recruits anonymously lamented, and that now he will continue to struggle to earn a living since he is unemployed.
Brig. Gen Deus Sande, the recruitment unit commander in charge of western Uganda, said “it would be the UPDF’s wish to undertake all the numbers that turned but the force is constrained by the quarters and resources.”
“Yesterday [Wednesday] it was challenging. The turn-up was big but through screening, we managed to get 200 people whom we expect to render good service after the training.”
Unlike in some regions where recruits were disqualified on several grounds, including lack of national identity cards, and possession of fake documents while others on health grounds, Sande confirmed that most youth in the western region would qualify even though they were knocked out by the allocated the quarter numbers.
Quarters are allotted based on the population size of the district determined by the population census which was last carried out in 2014.
Sande appealed to those recruited to serve Uganda and the rest of Africa when called upon, with passion.
Meanwhile, six people were arrested with forged academic papers. The suspects include; Daniel Okello from Kampala, John Okello [Soroti], James Wahatara [Mbale], Alicha Martin [Arua], Deogracious Atuyambe [Buhweju] and Charles Awunyo from Ngora district
Sande said the group which possessed forged LC I recommendation letters and forged academic documents was handed over to Mbarara Central Police station for forgery.
The recruitment exercise which started Tuesday is expected to end on July 2, 2022, and according to Brig.Gen.Sande.
A total of 400 are to be picked from the districts of Isingiro, Mbarara, Rwampara, Ibanda, Kiruhura, and Kazo to join the LDP.
The recruitment exercise for LDP began on June 18, 2022, according to the Defence spokesperson, Brig Gen.Flexi Kulayigye, it ends on July 4, 2022, in several parts of the country.
According to Kulayigye, qualified persons must be Ugandans with valid national identity cards and between the age of 18 to 25 for the planned 8300 to be enlisted in the regular army whereas professionals should be between 18 and 30.
https://thecooperator.news/tears-as-hundreds-in-teso-miss-joining-local-defence-force/
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