____________________

The public information officer of the 3rd Division of the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF), Maj. Isaac Oware has issued a warning concerning fraudulent activities in the Bukedi region.

Con artists are deceiving unsuspecting civilians by promising recruitment into the UPDF as officer cadets in exchange for money.

According to Maj. Oware, these scammers are demanding sums as high as Ugx 350,000 via mobile money transfers under the false pretence of facilitating UPDF recruitment.

“The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) in the third Division have noted with concern a group of conmen extorting up to shillings 350,000, via mobile money transfers, from unsuspecting civilians in Bukedi sub-region under the guise of assisting the victims to be recruited into the UPDF as Officer Cadets,” Maj. Oware said in a statement issued Monday afternoon.  

“The conmen are impersonating senior UPDF and security officers who originate from Bukedi or work in the region,” Maj. Oware added. 

He explained that the joint intelligence teams are currently working stealthily to break through those criminal cells, and apprehend and prosecute them as per the law. 

“The general public is informed that there is no ongoing recruitment into the UPDF and that recruitment into the force is free of charge. The UPDF will officially announce through mass media when the time for recruitment comes,” Maj. Oware said. 

It is only the Uganda Police Force who started the recruitment exercise for police constables today, Monday, in the Teso sub-region.

“The exercise is free of charge and is for those who possess senior four certificates,” said the regional liaison officer Kyoga East, John Robert Tukei.