JINJA, Uganda — Twenty applicants have been arrested for allegedly using forged documents and impersonating other people in an attempt to secure places in the ongoing Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) recruitment exercise in Busoga.
The suspects were arrested during recruitment exercises held for Jinja City, Jinja District and Mayuge District at Kakindu Stadium in Jinja City.
According to Capt. Ibrahim Kasule Ssekitto, the Busoga regional recruitment team public information officer, 15 applicants were arrested on Monday, August 10, when the exercise targeted candidates from Jinja City and Jinja District.
Another five applicants were arrested on Tuesday during the recruitment exercise for candidates from Mayuge District.
Ssekitto said the suspects were intercepted during the verification of their National Identification Numbers (NINs), which reportedly revealed inconsistencies between the names on their national identity cards and the identities they had presented during the recruitment process.
Some of the suspects were also allegedly discovered after infiltrating groups of genuine applicants who had advanced to the physical fitness test.
The 20 suspects were subsequently handed over to Jinja Central Police Station for further investigations.
Ssekitto said the recruitment team had strengthened its verification procedures to prevent fraud and ensure that only genuine and medically fit candidates are selected to join the army.
He said applicants undergo several stages, including physical fitness tests, verification of identification and academic documents, medical examinations and other screening procedures.
Ssekitto warned applicants against using forged documents or attempting to impersonate others, saying such attempts would be detected during the verification process.
He urged candidates to present genuine documents and follow the recruitment guidelines, saying the team was committed to ensuring a transparent and credible exercise.
The recruitment exercise also raised concerns over applicants concealing medical conditions in an effort to qualify for military training.
Ssekitto said one applicant from Jinja City collapsed after running approximately three kilometres during the physical fitness test.
The applicant was rushed to the UPDF health facility at Gaddafi Barracks, where medical personnel reportedly discovered an overgrown hernia.
He was later referred to Jinja Regional Referral Hospital for specialised treatment and surgery and is reportedly recovering.
Brig. Gen. Peter Gaetano Omola, who heads the UPDF recruitment team in Busoga, said the required 126 slots for Jinja City and Jinja District had been filled, with 26 women among those selected.
For Mayuge District, the team received 121 applicants, including 15 women.
Omola welcomed the participation of women in the exercise, noting that the UPDF generally targets women to constitute about 30 per cent of the required recruitment numbers.
He also cautioned applicants against hiding medical conditions, saying the medical screening is meant to ensure that recruits are physically and medically fit to undergo military training.
The UPDF recruitment exercise is being conducted across the country to select suitable candidates for enlistment into the army.
The Busoga recruitment team is scheduled to continue the exercise in Namutumba, Iganga, Bugiri, Luuka and Namayingo districts.
