Derrick A
The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) are currently conducting the 2024 national recruitment exercises in Rukungiri, targeting candidates from both Rukungiri and Kanungu districts.
Brigadier Mugerwa Stephano, the leader of Team 9 overseeing the selection process, emphasized the importance of discipline, adherence to instructions, and patience among the shortlisted candidates throughout the interviews.
Brigadier Stephano assured the candidates and district leadership that the interview stages would be conducted systematically, transparently, and fairly, with the objective of selecting deserving soldiers for the training programs. He acknowledged the satisfactory turnout and thanked the district leadership and parents for supporting their children’s decision to join the Ugandan Army.
However, he noted the challenge of educational performance, as some shortlisted candidates had poor grades. He urged parents to prioritize their children’s education, highlighting that the current recruitment process favors those with better academic achievements, unlike in the past.
The recruitment exercise aims to select 58 candidates from Rukungiri and 47 from Kanungu, totaling 105 candidates from both districts. Following Rukungiri, the recruitment team will proceed to Bushenyi and Mbarara districts.
The selection process in Rukungiri was officiated by Deputy RDC Wilberforce Ahimbisibwe Ongom, who expressed gratitude to the UPDF leadership for adopting a new approach to candidate shortlisting based on official advertisements and projected quotas, providing clearer guidance.
The UPDF’s general recruitment exercise aims to enlist 9,627 regular forces into the Infantry. This exercise commenced on July 1, 2024, and will conclude on July 14, 2024.
