The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) has concluded a ten-day recruitment drive in the Karamoja Sub-region, enlisting 185 young men and women for military training.
The exercise, which covered nine districts, attracted hundreds of hopefuls, but only those meeting the strict health, academic, and identity requirements made the final cut.
The recruitment process saw strong backing from district leaders, who emphasised the need for discipline, patriotism, and healthy living among the new soldiers.
Authorities in the region also pushed for affirmative action to ensure that some deserving candidates, who might otherwise have been left out, were given a chance to serve — a request that was honoured.
While many applicants came well-prepared, others were turned away for lacking original academic certificates, missing national IDs, or having inconsistencies in their personal details.
The newly selected recruits including 12 women will soon report to the Basic Recruits Training School in Kaweweta, Nakaseke District, where they will undergo intensive preparation for service.
UPDF officials have cautioned them to avoid any behaviour that could jeopardise their future in the force.
Following the Karamoja exercise, the UPDF Recruitment Team will move to Kapchorwa District for the Sebei Sub-region phase, scheduled to run from 11 to 14 August 2025.
