Are you jobless, please take advantage of the available job opportunities at Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) as the army embarks on mass recruitment exercise of new staff
UPDF Director for Public Information Col Chris Magezi says the army intends to recruit over ten thousand soldiers between June and August, during the mass retirement period.
Addressing the media in Kampala Magezi said the recruitment will be conducted online, with applications accepted from 10th to 24th June meanwhile names of shortlisted candidates will be posted on district notice boards, at City Halls, and on the UPDF website.
A circular by UPDF Chief of Staff Lt Gen Jack Bakasumba, sent through the Office of the President to districts and local governments, said about 10,200 personnel, UCE and UACE leavers, plus professionals with science backgrounds, will be needed.
“Physical recruitment will be conducted in all districts and cities from 20th July to 1st August. During the exercise, we will use figures from the Uganda National Population and Housing Census 2024 to determine quotas for each district. This is to avoid claims of favoritism in the recruitment process.” Magezi said.
He added that the first category of general recruits will require a Uganda Certificate of Education (O-Level) or Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) and applicants must be aged 18 to 25 and have sat their exams in 2024 or 2025.
Meanwhile the second category targets specialists including ICT professionals with master’s degrees, degrees, and diplomas; engineers and logistics experts, aviation professionals and meteorologists, health workers, specialist doctors, medical officers, physicists, and allied health professionals. Others include practicing lawyers, teachers, sports personnel, artists, social scientists, and psychologists.
Magezi explained that the recruitment serves two main purposes: addressing gaps from upcoming mass retirements and staffing the newly completed UPDF National Referral Hospital.
“As long as people turn up, we are ready to take in as many as we can. The UPDF has grown in stature and size over the years and is still expanding. We have many projects; for instance, we have a fully-fledged National Referral Hospital. So the more qualified and competent officers we get, the better.” Magezi said.
More than 500 officers will retire next month, including four-star General Katumba Wamala, former Chief of Defence Forces and former Minister of Works and Transport, who was recently appointed to the Public Service. The UPDF retirement age is 65 for serving generals or lieutenant generals, while major generals retire at 62.
