The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) has launched its national recruitment exercise for 2025, seeking to enlist 11,500 Ugandan citizens into both regular and professional service.
According to an official statement, the recruitment exercise will run from Monday, July 7, to Friday, July 11, 2025, and will follow a two-phase process—online applications followed by physical recruitment.
In the first phase, all interested applicants must submit their applications via the UPDF Recruitment Portal at recruitment.updf.go.ug. Applicants are required to upload a recent passport-sized photograph, academic documents, and a copy of their National Identification Card.
Shortlisted candidates will be announced through the UPDF website and at district headquarters across the country.
The second phase involves physical recruitment, which will take place in all 135 districts and 11 cities across Uganda. Shortlisted applicants will be required to present themselves at designated recruitment centres with a handwritten application endorsed by local leaders—LCI, LCII, LCIII chairpersons, GISO/DISO, and the Resident District Commissioner (RDC). They must also present a valid National ID or National Identification Number (NIN), original and photocopies of academic documents, and three passport-sized photos.
The UPDF noted that the recruitment will be guided by population data from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) as of June 2024, with recruitment quotas allocated based on district and city populations.
Recruits will be selected in two categories—regular recruits and professionals.
Regular recruits must hold the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) and be between 18 and 22 years old. Diploma-holding Grade V teachers are also eligible, provided they fall within the 20 to 25 age bracket.
For the Air Force and other specialized professional roles, the UPDF is targeting pilots, aircraft maintenance engineers, air traffic controllers, meteorologists, and graduates in ICT and various engineering fields. The age limit for professional recruits is up to 30 years, depending on qualifications. S.6 leavers with strong performance in science combinations—particularly Physics and Mathematics—may also apply for the Air Force.
Recruitment for professionals, teachers, and S.6 science candidates will be centrally conducted at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala.
The UPDF emphasized that all applicants must meet strict eligibility criteria, including Ugandan citizenship, physical and medical fitness, good conduct, and residency in the district or city where they are applying.
Applications must also be endorsed by relevant local authorities and security officials.
“Recruitment into the UPDF is free of charge. Any acts of bribery or extortion should be reported to the nearest police station,” the statement warned.
The military further encouraged female professionals to apply, noting that certified academic and professional credentials are mandatory for all applicants.
Details regarding physical recruitment dates and venues will be announced in due course, with reporting based on the applicant’s district of residence.
“The UPDF calls on all disciplined, patriotic, and qualified Ugandans to seize this opportunity to serve their country. We look forward to welcoming new members into a force built on patriotism, discipline, nationalism, and Pan-Africanism,” the statement concluded.
