Dozens miss UPDF recruitment due to hernia, haemorrhoids

UPDF RECRUITMENT

Dozens of youths who turned up for the Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces (UPDF) recruitment in Moroto and Kotido enrollment centres in Karamoja were turned away due hernia and haemorrhoids illnesses, the officers in charge of the exercise told the New Vision.

This was confirmed by the army 3rd Division public relations officer, Maj. Telesphar Turyamumanya, who said several cases were registered in the two centres.

He said out of the 350 youths who showed interest in joining the army, dozens missed due to hernia or haemorrhoids.

"Most of them had passed the physical test, but could not be taken up due to these illnesses," Turyamumanya noted.

He attributed the conditions to the diet in Karamoja.

The medical superintendent of Matany Missionary Hospital, Dr John Bosco Nsubuga hemorrhoids and hernia are relatively common cases in Karamoja but not very complicated to treat.

"These are part of the surgical cases we handle," he said adding that hernia is a protrusion of tissue or an organ in the weakest part of the lower abdomen, whereas haemorrhoids are tissue swellings that pop up in the anal area and may have blood clots.

A hernia can be painful, especially when you cough, bend or carry heavy objects, which could lead to life-threatening complications. Haemorrhoids, which are locally referred to as piles, are swollen veins in the anus, which form when the walls of the colon are overstretched. They can be unpleasant but are easily preventable.

Nsubuga said the low literacy levels also contributed to the failure of several youth joining forces.

Turyamumanya said Nakapiripirit and Amudat districts in South Karamoja failed to produce any candidate for enrollment into the UPDF.

Meanwhile, 77 youth, 15 of whom were female recruits, were at the weekend enrolled in the UPDF in Karamoja.

 One of them was Steven Anthony Sagal, 28, who has a bachelor's degree in statistics and is a resident of Trading Centre West in Lotaruk Parish, Lolachat sub-county in Nabilatuk district.

" God has finally answered my prayers," he said, adding that he wants to be an officer in future.

Florence Achan 20, a former student of Abim Secondary School, said she had spent one year at home due to lack of school. She was due to joint A'level.

"It is good that I have joined the army, I will further my education in future with the monthly earnings," she said.

A former teacher of Light and Kaswabuli secondary schools in Soroti and Busembatia respectively, Anyarawuno Yokana, said he had a passion for the UPDF.

"As a diploma holder in teaching, I know the army will not hesitate to give me a better position after the training," he said.

Yokana added that he missed recruitment in 2017 at Kololo Grounds because he arrived late.