The New Vision

Army snubs applicants with jiggers

Publication date: Wednesday, 8th November, 2006

Maj. Felix Kulayigye

PEOPLE with missing teeth, skin diseases, jiggers and pronounced body scars were yesterday rejected by the UPDF’s recruiting team, reports Conan Businge.

They walked away from Kololo airstrip crestfallen, as recruiting officer in charge of the central region, Lt. Col. James Kinaaba, explained that those applicants were eliminated. HIV/AIDS and pressure patients also fell victim.

He said though some applicants had the required academic documents and local council-supporting recommendations, they failed medical tests.

“For teeth, the civil suit in Uganda has gone so far. Having missing teeth would mean one lost them during training. HIV/AIDS patients would hardly survive the military training. For body scars, we do not allow those with scars below the knee.

“During training, we spend long hours in gumboots,which may harm reactive scars leading to plastic surgery; and the victim can even sue!” Kinaaba said.

Yesterday was the third and last day of recruitment in the region and 200 applicants had succeeded by press time.

UPDF spokesperson Maj. Felix Kulayigye said on phone the army ‘is not a joke,’ and that is why they are undertaking the rigorous physical and medical tests.

“It would be inhuman to subject one to military training, well knowing they will not be able to complete it.

This article can be found on-line at: http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/13/531046