By Mulengera Reporters
On Friday, the Ag Director Defense Public Information Col Chris Magezi addressed reporters at Uganda Media Center where he unveiled plans to recruit thousands of Ugandan young people (aged 18-30 years) into the Uganda People’s Defense Forces.
Academically and physically qualified Ugandans will be recruited into different specialties and departments and, even when emphasis will be put on scientists, even those from social sciences and humanities backgrounds will be given chance. Even those with as low as UCE/S4 certificate will be given chance for low-qualification jobs.
The recruitment will be open to all Ugandans including those who have as high as masters’ degrees provided they are within the prescribed age bracket and also have the relevant experience. The local government structures (comprising of LC1s, LC2s, GISOs, DISOs and the RDCs offices) will be relied upon to have written recommendation letters for potential recruits. Magezi explained that there will be a quota designated to advantage female applicants for all positions.
The applicants will each be assessed as to their medical suitability and physical fitness. One should be a Ugandan citizen with no criminal record. To officially be rolled out effective from Wednesday 10th June, the exercise will be digital and the applications will be made, received and processed online. Magezi said the exercise is done annually and now is the time for the 2026 recruitment exercise to get underway. A special website/online portal will be set up and publicized in the national newspapers guiding potential applicants on all the relevant procedures.
He clarified that only authentic academic documents will be accepted and those tendering forgeries will be criminally prosecuted under the laws of Uganda. It will all be free and Ugandans were called upon to report whoever tries to extort money from them claiming to be in position to influence anyone’s recruitment.
Magezi clarified that the Defense Ministry will leverage on the UBOS statistics from the 2024 population and housing census report to determine how many people are to be recruited from each district of Uganda, depending on the demography of that particular district. Those to be recruited will undergo rigorous military training and be prepared to be deployed to work in any part of Uganda because UPDF is a national army whose personnel should be able to tolerate hard conditions and working in any part of the country.
NOT FOR ELDERLY, PWDS:
Responding to journalists’ questions during the plenary session, Col Magezi made it clear that the exercise will only be for the physically fit because globally, military service is never for the PWDs and the elderly (the abagurusis as he called them).
He said this is why each applicant will have to undergo medical examination and also be required to pass the physical fitness test. He added that the age requirement has to strictly be adhered to because military service requires plenty of physical energy and endurance.
He said much as the military appreciates the fact that these two categories are Ugandan citizens who matter like any other citizens, there won’t be a special quote dedicated to catering for the PWDs and elderly. That is how it has always been not only in Uganda but globally. Magezi also encouraged journalists to apply in case they are interested and have the required qualification and experience besides meeting the maximum age-related restrictions.
The categories of personnel being sought for recruitment through the upcoming exercise include ICT specialists, engineers, logistics experts, aviation professionals (pilots, aircrafts maintenance trainers etc), meteorogists, health services provision specialists, nurses, pharmacists, legal personnel, primary & secondary school teachers, sportsmen and musicians.
Magezi clarified that they need many lawyers because of the need to comply with last year’s Supreme Court directive requiring that all men and women manning military courts must possess formal legal training. The applicants for these legal jobs will have to meet the age requirements and also possess the legal practice experience of 5 years.
Magezi explained they will need a lot of health workers because of the many projects defense has lately been undertaking including the establishment of the UPDF National Referral Hospital in Mbuya which is now fully fledged. The musicians will be required to be deployed to do UPDF music band-related work and much more. Magezi explained that applicants who are already involved in serious sporting and music projects will be in a more advantaged position. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
