Females rejected at the first stage of UPDF recruitment

Females in the Greater Luweero region have failed tests to join Uganda People's Defence Forces - UPDF.

The recruitment exercise for the districts of Nakasongola, Luweero and Nakaseke, held at Kasana playground, Sunday, attracted 520 applicants. However, only 58 male applicants were successful.

Colonel David Isimbwa, the head of the recruitment exercise in the region said that very few females applied to join the army but they were all rejected at the first stage of verification because of lack of authentic academic papers, being above the required age bracket while a few others were overqualified.

Recruits were required to possess the Uganda Certificate of Education completed in  2014 or 2015, aged between 18-25 and have a clean bill of health.

However, area leaders and a number of female applicants were furious and accused UPDF of not being transparent in the exercise.

Some of the females who were unsuccessful insisted that they had all the required qualifications but were maliciously left out.

Janet Namwanje, one of the applicants, questions how other girls will be encouraged to join the army when the few who try are discouraged and rejected under unclear circumstances.

Nakasongola County MP Noah Mutebi equally accused the recruitment officers of nepotism and bias.

-URN