Over 2500 Ankole youth dropped during UPDF recruitment

Several applicants in the on-going Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) recruitment exercise have failed to make it to the force. Over 2500 applicants from the Ankole region were on Friday rejected.

Out of the over 2,000 applicants who turned up from Mbarara, only 120 were selected while Mitooma, Buhweju, Bushenyi, Rubirizi and Shema had 700 applicants but were given only 69 slots.

The UPDF second division Spokesperson Maj Charles Kabona said the recruitment officers have been overwhelmed by the high turn up of youth.

Maj Kabona was addressing the media after the recruitment exercise of 120 youth from the districts of Isingiro, Ibanda, Kiruhura, Mbarara, Rwampara and Kazo at Kakyeka stadium said because of the overwhelming number most of the youth could not make it and were dropped after being screened and scrutinized.

“We have got five teams which are traversing the whole country recruiting, and there is a team in western Uganda under Col Grant Mugabe. We are very pleased because wherever we are going there is a very big turn up. It is overwhelming and that is a clear manifestation that people have confidence in UPDF, people love UPDF, the way UPDF loves them because UPDF has done what it is supposed to do,’’ Maj Kabona said.

He revealed that in Ankole sub region, a total of 2511 people did not qualify to enter UPDF on medical grounds and lack of academic qualifications.

“We cannot take everybody and we have to ensure that each district is represented because they are going as ambassadors of their districts,” Maj Kabona said.

He advised those who have been dropped to collect their mistakes so that they can be considered in next year’s recruitment since each of them was told the reasons as to why they were dropped.

According to Maj Kabona, for one to be recruited must possess a National ID, must be medically stable, must be single and have at least completed Senior Four. Only science professional were considered.

The Mbarara Deputy District Resident Commissioner, Mr Emmy Turyabagyenyi Kateera, said there is increasing pressure on government to provide employment to the growing number of unemployed youth.

“As of now we could only absorb this number according to the budget of the army. The government is not sleeping, we are going to have other interventions to see how the youth can be employed through various government policies including; Youth Livelihood Fund and establishment of a technical school in every constituency,’’ he said.

The countrywide UPDF recruitment targeting 4,000 recruits started on the 27th December 2019 and will end on 5th of January with Ntungamo and Kanungu districts meeting at Rukungiri district headquarters.