Kampala, Uganda: The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) has announced plans to recruit over 600 Local Defence Personnel (LDPs) across six districts in the Rwenzori Sub-region, in a move aimed at strengthening community security and border surveillance following recent armed attacks and rebel activity in the area.
According to UPDF Spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Felix Kulayigye, the recruitment exercise will run from November 10 to November 15, 2025, targeting 100 recruits each from Kabarole, Kamwenge, Bunyangabo, Kasese, Bundibugyo, and Ntoroko Districts.
“The UPDF leadership calls upon all eligible candidates to take advantage of this opportunity to serve in the UPDF and wishes those who will succeed in this exercise good luck in their military careers, where patriotism, nationalism, and Pan-Africanism are the basis of our service to all,” Gen. Kulayigye said in a press statement dated Tuesday, November 04.
The recruitment drive follows a series of Rwenzori attacks earlier this year in Kasese and Bundibugyo, which left several civilians and security personnel dead and displaced hundreds. The army said the exercise is part of a broader strategy to restore confidence among border communities, enhance intelligence collection, and reinforce local security structures.
The UPDF outlined clear eligibility requirements for aspiring candidates:
- Must be Ugandan citizens with an original National ID (NIN).
- Must be healthy and physically fit to undergo military training.
- Must be aged between 18 and 25 years.
- Must have attained at least O-Level (UCE) or its equivalent.
- Must present a handwritten application endorsed by LCI, LCII, LCIII Chairpersons, GISO, or DISO.
- Must be residents of the respective districts, disciplined, and with no criminal record.
Gen Kulayigye cautioned applicants against presenting forged documents, as such acts will attract criminal prosecution.
Security Context in Rwenzori Region
The Rwenzori Sub-region, particularly the districts of Kasese, Bundibugyo, and Ntoroko, has experienced recurring rebel incursions linked to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) operating across the DR Congo border.
In June 2023, armed attackers believed to be ADF affiliates raided a secondary school in Kasese, killing several students and abducting others, an incident that reignited calls for tighter local security coordination.
But now military analysts say the decision to recruit new Local Defence Personnel reflects the government’s renewed focus on community-based defence mechanisms and rapid response capacity at the grassroots level.
“This recruitment is both a stabilization and deterrence measure,” a senior army source in Fort Portal told DailyExpress. “The LDPs will serve as the first line of community defence and intelligence, complementing UPDF and police efforts.”
Maj. Gen. Kulayigye reiterated that joining the UPDF remains an act of patriotism and national service, urging candidates to uphold discipline and integrity. “The UPDF is built on patriotism, nationalism, and Pan-Africanism. Those joining must serve with dedication and honour, as we continue to protect our nation’s sovereignty and peace,” he said.
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