UPDF to Recruit 13,000 LDU Personnel

By Fred Kiva

The Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) is to recruit 13,000 Local Defence Unit (LDU) personnel from selected regions.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the UPDF said that the recruitment exercise will take place in Central, Eastern, Northern and Mid-western regions of Uganda. It will run from 15th-31st July this year. “The recruitment is aimed at enhancing the existing foundation security arrangement in the country to ensure the people and their property are secured at the grass root levels,” the statement shared by UPDF Spokesperson Brig Richard Karemire indicates.

The statement adds that the recruits will undergo a four months basic military training course from UPDF training schools. The LDUs will be deployed to serve in their respective districts of recruitment later after completion of training. Among other specifications, eligible recruits should be 18-35 years, with formal education of Primary Seven (Minimum) and Senior Four (Maximum). They should be disciplined and with no criminal record.

The UPDF says that the recruitment schedules will be availed in newspapers, while announcements about the same are already running on radios in respective regions/districts of recruitment. The schedules will also be availed at district and Sub County headquarter notice boards.

“The recruitment exercise will be conducted with the support of sister security organs and leaders at all levels,” the UPDF said. The exercise comes at a time security is grappling with increased criminality especially in the City, where a number of business operators are robbed and often murdered.