The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Lira, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF) recruitment team in Lira has failed to meet its target after several applicants tested positive for sexually transmitted diseases.
The two-day exercise was targeting 495 recruits from the districts of Amolatar, Alebtong, Otuke, Dokolo, and Lira. However, only 299 applicants passed the test.
The applicants were subjected to written and physical exercises including a five-kilometre run and medical tests for high blood pressure, Hepatitis B, HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like syphilis and gonorrhea. Those found to be positive were automatically disqualified.
Steven Mugerwa, the recruitment team leader in Lira says the general turn-up was high but most candidates especially females were disqualified after they tested positive for different illnesses, mostly STDs. Only 44 female applicants passed the test at the end of the exercise on Friday evening.
However, some candidates were disqualified on grounds that they have fake academic documents, had physical disabilities and were of advanced age. Mugerwa is, however, concerned that despite the disqualifications, fewer females are generally showing interest in joining the force.
But Winifred Constance Akello, a secondary school teacher who graduated from college early this year believes that the process was not fair because she was disqualified even without checking her documents.
Kizito Edola, a resident of Dokolo also missed the chance because he arrived late at the recruitment venue while Peter Odongo, a resident of Lira District was disqualified because there is a mismatch in his date of birth on the National Identity Card and academic documents.
Successful candidates have been transported to Kaweweta Recruit Training School, in Nakaseke District.
*****
URN
So among the 196 who failed the females had medical problems
The one who screened for STDs , found this group of conditions to be a predominant cause of such problems; this information was useful for the recruitment exercise
.atters arising;
If a female was not successful, failed on medical grounds the chances that she has STD are high but who is supposed to know this information?
It is a prayer that these females have been educated on their problem and promptly started on treatment and that the exercise to track their contacts has been initiated; a benefit from the breach of “confidentiality”:
They had referees, were seen going for the exercise and may not have consented to dissemination of the health check up findings
On a sad note, from the same catchment area, looking at the screening criteria, one would have expected more males to have the problems reported