By Aaron Okotel
MBALE
The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has officially kicked off its physical nationwide recruitment drive in the Bukedi and Bugisu sub-regions, targeting thousands of young Ugandans eager to join the military.
The exercise, which began on Monday, 10th August, 2026 in Mbale City and is scheduled to run through June 18, is part of a nationwide exercise targeting 10,000 new recruits.
Lieutenant Teddy Anena, the UPDF spokesperson covering Bukedi and Bugisu, said the physical exercise is the third stage of the recruitment process following online applications, display of applicants and shortlisting.
“The first phase was the online application, which happened in June. We then had the display and shortlisting. The people you see here are results of that process,” Anena said.
She said the team started with Mbale City on Monday and would proceed to Mbale District on Tuesday, followed by Bududa and Manafwa before moving to Tororo.
Anena said applicants are required to be Ugandan citizens aged 18 years and above and must have attained the required educational qualifications, including certificates, diplomas or bachelor’s degrees.
Anena warned applicants against presenting false documents, saying those found with forged certificates would face the law after investigations are completed.
“We have been announcing that we do not want anyone to come with false documents. If we find out that they were forged, the law will take its course,” she said.
According to Anena, the 10,000 recruitment slots will be distributed across the country based on population figures from the national census.
The exercise in Mbale city was flagged off by Hamza Banja, the Deputy Resident City Commissioner in charge of Mbale Industrial Division, who commended the recruitment team for conducting what he described as a transparent exercise.
“The exercise has been very good. Those who were shortlisted went through the exercise. It was transparent. All of them went for the physical test, including the run, and came back,” he said.
Banja said the high number of applicants reflects growing public interest in joining the UPDF, which he attributed to the perception of the army as a professional career.
“People know that when I go there as a teacher, I will teach, and when you are a doctor, you will become a doctor after training. I think that has made the process become good,” he said.
