The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) has commenced the recruitment process for 9,627 soldiers. Applicants must have passed both mathematics and English at the ordinary level and be between 18 and 22 years old, having completed their Uganda Certificate of Education between 2020 and 2023.
Application forms are available on the UPDF website (www.updf.go.ug). Applicants must download, fill out, and submit these forms to the Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) in their respective regions.
Brig. Gen. Felix Kulayigye, the Director of Defence Public Information, stated that applicants must present their original national identity cards and obtain recommendations from their Local Council I, II, and III leaders, as well as from Gombolola Internal Security Organisation and District Internal Security Organisation officers.
“The UPDF will conduct a general recruitment exercise for 9,627 regular infantry forces. The actual recruitment will begin on July 1, 2024, and end on July 14, 2024,” Brig. Gen. Kulayigye announced at the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs headquarters.
For over three years, the UPDF has been recruiting soldiers for permanent and pensionable regular forces, alongside temporary Local Defence Forces due to financial constraints.
In this new process, RDCs will forward the completed applications to the UPDF. After reviewing the documents, the UPDF will shortlist candidates and send the list back to RDCs, who will publish the names of the successful candidates on notice boards.
Selected applicants will attend interviews at various centers between July 1 and July 14. Successful candidates will then be notified to report for training.
The recruitment will follow a quota system, with districts receiving allocations proportional to their populations according to Uganda Bureau of Statistics data. Smaller districts will have fewer candidates.
The Kampala Metropolitan Area, including Kampala City and Wakiso District, will receive special attention, with applicants from each division of Kampala City being interviewed on specific days at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds. Candidates from Busiro North, Busiro South, Nansana, Makindye Ssabagabo, and Kira Municipality in Wakiso District will be rated equally to those from districts.
Previous recruitment efforts faced complaints of corruption and favoritism from Members of Parliament and the public, leading to demands for an investigation and redo. Brig. Gen. Kulayigye noted that the new measures aim to prevent corruption in the recruitment process.
The recruitment is expected to attract many applicants, especially following the parliamentary committee on Defence and Internal Affairs’ recommendation to increase the salaries of low-rank soldiers next financial year.
If implemented, the salary increase will see a private earning Shs828,426, up from Shs485,279 monthly. A corporal will earn over Shs1 million, making their salary higher than many graduates in public service. However, this increase will push the army’s wage bill over Shs1 trillion, adding pressure on taxpayers as the economy grapples with reduced donor aid.
When questioned about the timing of the recruitment during a period of peace and stability, Brig. Gen. Kulayigye stated that preparations for war are conducted during peacetime.
Proposed Salary Increments:
- Private: From Shs485,279 to Shs828,426
- Lance Corporal: From Shs495,000 to Shs1.03m
- Corporal: From Shs514,000 to Shs1m
- Sergeant: From Shs514,000 to Shs1.3m
- Staff Sergeant: From Shs523,800 to Shs1.59m
- Warrant Officer Class 2: From Shs574,300 to Shs1.85m
- Warrant Officer Class 1: From Shs591,700 to Shs2.09m
- Second Lieutenant: From Shs613,700 to Shs2.38m
- Lieutenant: From Shs772,600 to Shs2.48m
- Captain: From Shs845,600 to Shs2.73m
