UPDF to recruit more 13,000 LDUs to boost security upcountry

The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces intends to conduct a subsequent recruitment exercise of more than 13,000 Local Defence Units (LDUs) personnel from selected districts in Central, Eastern, Northern and Mid-western Uganda, according to the press release from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).

According the press release, the exercise will run from July 15-31, 2019. “The recruitment is aimed at enhancing the existing foundation security arrangement in the country to ensure the people and their property are secured at grass root levels,” it says.

Recruits will receive four months basic military training from UPDF training schools and upon completion of their training, “The LDUs shall be deployed to serve in their respective Districts of recruitment.”

Eligible candidates must meet the requirements such as: Being the citizens of Uganda and must be in possession of an original national identity card, must be healthy and medically fit ready to undergo medical mental and physical body check and a road run to test endurance and body fitness, must be adult male or female between 18-35 years and should have attained a minimum formal education of P.7 (Primary Leaving Education) and maximum of S.4 (Uganda Certificate of Education).

The applicants must have letters of recommendation from LCI Chairpersons, PISOs and GISOs duly signed, must be residents of the area, must not have criminal record, be disciplined and must not be having formal engagement/employment.

Any presentation of forged documents is criminal, and culprits will be liable to prosecution, says the press release, adding that the recruitment schedules will be available in local newspapers and are already running as radio announcements in the respective regions/districts of recruitment.

“The schedules are also available at the district and sub-county headquarter notice boards. The recruitment exercise will be conducted with the support of sister security organs and district leaders at all levels,” it says.

We appreciate the overwhelming support these partners have offered to our teams in the past recruitments and request for the same spirit so that we can jointly make this exercise a success. The UPDF remains committed to working with the leaders at all levels and the people in ensuring peace and security in Uganda, it says.

The latest phase follows earlier recruitment in Kampala, Mukono and Wakiso.