Thousands turn up for UPDF recruitment
Aug 10, 2011
THOUSANDS of youth turned up for UPDF recruitment in different districts throughout the country.
By Vision Reporters
THOUSANDS of youth turned up for UPDF recruitment in different districts throughout the country.
Mbarara
Over 500 people turned up for recruitment at Kakyeka stadium in Mbarara, Col.Godffrey Golooba, the 2nd Division operations and training officer has said.
He said the recruits were from Mbarara, Ntungamo, Isingiro, Ibanda and Kiruhura districts.
In Mbarara district the army wanted only four cadets and 40 recruits, Ntungamo four cadets and 43 recruits, Isingiro four cadets and 37 recruits, Ibanda two cadets and 23 recruits, Kiruhura three cadets and 27 recruits.
The Mbarara Resident District Commissioner, Clement Kandole, said he was happy with the overwhelming turn-up of the recruits.
“In the past, it was a curse for one to join the army, but it’s now a credit to find many youth join the army to serve their country. When we get youth joining the army, then we are in line with developed countries,†Kandole said.
Lira
Hundreds of youth who turned up for recruitment at the mayor’s garden were kicked out due to lack of academic qualification, overage and medical unfitness.
Others were rejected because they had big scars on their legs or failed to pass the blood test where HIV/AIDS, diabetes, blood pressure and other sexually transmitted infections were screened.
“Some of these disqualifications are out of sympathy because if one is sick and you subject him to rigorous training, he or she can die,†the 5th Division army spokesman, Lt. Caesar Olweny, said.
Olweny said they wanted 17 cadets and 176 regular recruits from Lira, Apac, Kole, Alebtong, Otuke, Dokolo, Amolatar and Oyam districts.
Hoima
Over 180 people from Buliisa and Hoima districts who turned up for the recruitment were rejected over forgery of academic papers and being overage.
The head of recruitment for Bunyoro sub-region, Lt. Col. Frank Kyabande, said the biggest number of the applicants rejected were over-age.
He said applicants had to present their academic papers for scrutiny, go for medical check-up including acheck for ring worms, HIV/AIDS, sense of hearing and a road run of 8km in 30 minutes to test their physique.
Soroti
The army officers recruiting youth in Soroti screened out many people who forged their age to enable them join the army.
By 10:00am, the army team verifying the candidate’s papers had rejected over four people who were above the age of 25 years.
The eight districts in Teso region are being recruited at Soroti sports ground, where hundreds of youth arrived as early as 06:00am.
Bukomansimbi
The UPDF team in the southern region has expressed disappointment with the leaders in Bukomansimbi district after receiving only four recruits from the district.
The UPDF 1st Division political commissar, Maj. Jackson Mukasa, said they recruited only four although they had expected at least 14 recruits from Bukomansimbi.
Compiled by Abdulkarim Ssengendo, Patrick Okino, Bonney Odongo, Robert Atuhairwe, Godfrey Ojore, Henry Atol and Dismus Buregyeya
THOUSANDS of youth turned up for UPDF recruitment in different districts throughout the country.
Mbarara
Over 500 people turned up for recruitment at Kakyeka stadium in Mbarara, Col.Godffrey Golooba, the 2nd Division operations and training officer has said.
He said the recruits were from Mbarara, Ntungamo, Isingiro, Ibanda and Kiruhura districts.
In Mbarara district the army wanted only four cadets and 40 recruits, Ntungamo four cadets and 43 recruits, Isingiro four cadets and 37 recruits, Ibanda two cadets and 23 recruits, Kiruhura three cadets and 27 recruits.
The Mbarara Resident District Commissioner, Clement Kandole, said he was happy with the overwhelming turn-up of the recruits.
“In the past, it was a curse for one to join the army, but it’s now a credit to find many youth join the army to serve their country. When we get youth joining the army, then we are in line with developed countries,†Kandole said.
Lira
Hundreds of youth who turned up for recruitment at the mayor’s garden were kicked out due to lack of academic qualification, overage and medical unfitness.
Others were rejected because they had big scars on their legs or failed to pass the blood test where HIV/AIDS, diabetes, blood pressure and other sexually transmitted infections were screened.
“Some of these disqualifications are out of sympathy because if one is sick and you subject him to rigorous training, he or she can die,†the 5th Division army spokesman, Lt. Caesar Olweny, said.
Olweny said they wanted 17 cadets and 176 regular recruits from Lira, Apac, Kole, Alebtong, Otuke, Dokolo, Amolatar and Oyam districts.
Hoima
Over 180 people from Buliisa and Hoima districts who turned up for the recruitment were rejected over forgery of academic papers and being overage.
The head of recruitment for Bunyoro sub-region, Lt. Col. Frank Kyabande, said the biggest number of the applicants rejected were over-age.
He said applicants had to present their academic papers for scrutiny, go for medical check-up including acheck for ring worms, HIV/AIDS, sense of hearing and a road run of 8km in 30 minutes to test their physique.
Soroti
The army officers recruiting youth in Soroti screened out many people who forged their age to enable them join the army.
By 10:00am, the army team verifying the candidate’s papers had rejected over four people who were above the age of 25 years.
The eight districts in Teso region are being recruited at Soroti sports ground, where hundreds of youth arrived as early as 06:00am.
Bukomansimbi
The UPDF team in the southern region has expressed disappointment with the leaders in Bukomansimbi district after receiving only four recruits from the district.
The UPDF 1st Division political commissar, Maj. Jackson Mukasa, said they recruited only four although they had expected at least 14 recruits from Bukomansimbi.
Compiled by Abdulkarim Ssengendo, Patrick Okino, Bonney Odongo, Robert Atuhairwe, Godfrey Ojore, Henry Atol and Dismus Buregyeya