Political leaders cautioned against influence peddling in UPDF recruitment

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda People’s Defense Force- UPDF recruitment team in Lira has cautioned the political and public leaders in Lango against interfering with the ongoing recruitment process.

The UPDF fourth division spokesperson Major Caesar Olweny says that a number of political leaders in the the area were trying to use their influence to have their relatives recruited as part of the ongoing drive to recruit up to 4,000 personnel to join the army as both professional and regular soldiers.

The exercise attracted more than 2,000 people, who converged at the old Akii Bua stadium in Lira town, seeking for an opportunity to join the forces. The prospective recruits in Lira were drawn from the districts of Lira, Alebtong, Amolatar, Dokolo and Otuke.

Maj Olweny said the team has put in place measures to minimize complaints and eliminate fraud in the recruitment adding that all successful applicants are taken on merit.

Earlier this week, Maj Caesar Olweny said that unlike the past when officers were accused of handpicking relatives to get slots into the national army, the recruitment is this time round handled by a special team of officers drawn from different departments in the UPDF.

He said that the new approach has knocked out traditional methods of using officers from the same districts where cases of connivance brought the UPDF into disrepute.

The recruitment team will be stationed in Apac district on Friday, January 3, 2020, to vet applicants from the districts of Apac, Kwania, Kole and Oyam.

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