MASAKA, UGANDA: At least 20 youths were over the weekend arrested for presenting forged academic papers and other qualification documents during the army recruitment exercise in Masaka City.
The development was on Monday confirmed by Lt. Ninsiima Rwemijuma, the spokesperson of the Masaka-based Armoured brigade – Kisijjagirwa who said the suspects are now under police custody pending investigations into their alleged offences.
Lt Ninsiima added; “UPDF is considering only academically qualified candidates who are also healthy and fit enough to serve in the national army. We are not hearing to tolerate forgeries.”
According to Lt Ninsiima, out of 1,245 youths who turned up during Sunday’s recruitment exercise, only 386 were selected with a total of 859 disqualified due to poor physical fitness and lack of required academic qualifications.
“Some people who had turned up for the recruitment exercise had high blood pressure while others had scars on their bodies. So, we had to request them to try something else, not the Army,” he said.
The three-day recruitment exercise, which kicked off yesterday at Masaka Recreation Grounds is targeting 327 recruits from the districts of Gomba, Butambala, Bukomansimbi, Kalungu, Sembabule, Kalangala, Rakai, Lyantonde, and Kyotera.
Brig Gen Martin Ndyanabo, the head of the recruitment exercise in Masaka sub-region, said the overwhelming number of youth showing up at the recruitment venue shows that Ugandans are ‘eager to serve their country’.
“If one does not qualify, let him/her give a chance to a colleague who is fit and possesses the required qualifications,” he said.
The UPDF is currently conducting a countrywide recruitment exercise in which more than 10,000 recruits will join the army.
According to the national force, the following are the qualifications and requirements for one to join the army
- A citizen of Uganda
- Healthy and physically fit and ready to undergo medical examination
- Must be aged 18-25, and must be single with no children. The standard operating procedure is that; you have to wait for four years before you get married
- All recruits must have a minimum form of education of senior four or its equivalent and not above UACE (for basic training).
- They must present original documents and photocopies of all academic papers
- Good conduct with no criminal record (letters of recommendation from LCI to LCIII). Gombolola Internal Security Officers must sign the letters to confirm their conduct
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