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More women embrace UPDF recruitment at Busoga centre
Capt. Ibrahim Kasule Ssekito, the Busoga recruitment team's public relations officer, said the increased participation of women reflects growing interest among Ugandan women in military service and the professional opportunities available within the UPDF.a
Brig Gen Peter Gaetano Omola speaking to some of the recruits from Bugiri at Iganga District Headquarters. (Photo by Doreen Musingo)
By: Doreen Musingo, Journalist @New Vision
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More women are embracing the ongoing Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) recruitment exercise at the second Busoga recruitment centre in Iganga district, according to supervising officials.
UPDF officials said they had noted an increase in the number of female applicants seeking to join the force as both regular recruits and professionals.
Capt. Ibrahim Kasule Ssekito, the Busoga recruitment team's public relations officer, said the increased participation of women reflects growing interest among Ugandan women in military service and the professional opportunities available within the UPDF.
Speaking to New Vision on Monday (August 17), Capt. Ssekito said the growing participation of women was driven by applicants seeking to serve in specialised fields as well as those applying as regular recruits.
“We have registered a number of women who are coming in as professionals in various fields of duty, while others are joining as regular recruits,” Ssekito said.
He said the recruitment exercise had so far attracted hundreds of applicants from across the region, with several successfully qualifying after undergoing the required screening.
He said that, out of the 64 recruits from Luuka district, 15 were female. In Bugiri district, nine of the 103 applicants were female, while Bugweri had nine women among 46 applicants and Namayingo had five women among 58 applicants.
However, he said the exercise continued to face a number of challenges, particularly forged academic and identification documents, mismatched names and dates of birth, and health-related conditions.
“We have registered a number of women who are coming in as professionals in various fields of duty, while others are joining as regular recruits,” Ssekito said.
He said the recruitment exercise had so far attracted hundreds of applicants from across the region, with several successfully qualifying after undergoing the required screening.
He said that, out of the 64 recruits from Luuka district, 15 were female. In Bugiri district, nine of the 103 applicants were female, while Bugweri had nine women among 46 applicants and Namayingo had five women among 58 applicants.
However, he said the exercise continued to face a number of challenges, particularly forged academic and identification documents, mismatched names and dates of birth, and health-related conditions.
He also cautioned applicants and their parents against fraudsters who demand money in exchange for promises of securing recruitment slots. He encouraged the public to report cases of extortion, impersonation and document forgery to security authorities.
He noted that they had recorded cases of extortion, including one in which a man allegedly collected sh750,000 from each of three people from Pallisa district, promising to help them join the UPDF at Iganga district headquarters.
He added that another applicant reportedly lost sh450,000 after being promised a slot in the army by an unidentified person.
“From us, the recruitment team, the emphasis is that the exercise is completely free, and we urge all applicants to follow the official recruitment procedures. Parents and guardians, also stand warned against giving money to individuals claiming to have connections within the UPDF,” he said.
Despite the challenges, the recruitment team said it had so far selected young, energetic, healthy and qualified Ugandans who demonstrated the commitment and potential to serve the country.
He noted that they had recorded cases of extortion, including one in which a man allegedly collected sh750,000 from each of three people from Pallisa district, promising to help them join the UPDF at Iganga district headquarters.
He added that another applicant reportedly lost sh450,000 after being promised a slot in the army by an unidentified person.
“From us, the recruitment team, the emphasis is that the exercise is completely free, and we urge all applicants to follow the official recruitment procedures. Parents and guardians, also stand warned against giving money to individuals claiming to have connections within the UPDF,” he said.
Despite the challenges, the recruitment team said it had so far selected young, energetic, healthy and qualified Ugandans who demonstrated the commitment and potential to serve the country.