The Uganda Peoples Defence Forces is set to recruit 4,000 extra troops to fill the gap created by soldiers who have retired.
The UPDF spokesman Brig Richard Karemire said the exercise is also aimed at strengthening the military’s capability of handling new security challenges.
The recruitment of 4,000 personnel is scheduled to start on 27th December 2019 and closing on 5th January 2020 across the country, according to a Ministry of Defence circular seen by the Nile Wires.
The Defence and army spokesman said on Saturday that the recruitment exercise will take place in all the districts.
“Therefore, this years’ recruitment exercise of 4,000 personnel, starting on 27th December 2019 and closing on 5th January 2020, like previous ones, aims at attracting very composed and patriotic Ugandans ready to serve in regular, professional and specialized units. It is an opportunity for UPDF to fill gaps created by retirements and also tap skills of personnel with competencies in science subjects required in a modern army,” said Brig Karemire.
Recruitment into the UPDF is determined by government policy and budgetary provisions. The lowest level of recruitment is called general recruitment. Recruits undergo basic military training which lasts nine months. Graduates of this course are passed out at the rank of Private.
According to Brig Karemire, for one to be recruited he/she must meet the following criteria:
1. MUST be citizen of Uganda holding the original National Identity Card.
2. MUST be in good health and medically fit ready to undergo check-ups and road run.
3. Should be between the age of 18-25 or 18-30 if he/she is to enlist as a regular or professional respectively.
4. MUST be single with no children to avoid family distractions.
5. Regular recruits should possess a minimum education of S.4 or S.6 with bias in science subjects such as physics, chemistry and mathematics.
6. Professionals should be holders of Degrees/or Diplomas in Medicine, Engineering, Chemistry, Education or possess qualifications in vocational skills.
7. MUST be of good character and supported by letters from LCs and GISOs.
“The UPDF leadership has set up teams to ensure that the exercise achieves its objectives within the time given. Districts are encouraged to meet their quotas allocated as per the results of the population census which will be communicated by the team leaders,” Karemire further said in the statement.
The UPDF spokesman emphasized that it should be clear that recruitment into the UPDF is not an off-the-hook job opportunity, but rather a patriotic calling to serve our country Uganda in a field that requires great sacrifice and determination from the very first day of recruitment to the last day of one’s service.