KAMPALA, Uganda — The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) is set to conduct a comprehensive nationwide recruitment exercise, seeking to enlist 11,500 qualified citizens into its regular forces and professional cadres. The two-phase recruitment process is scheduled to commence with online applications from Monday, July 7, 2025, to Friday, July 11, 2025.
Aspiring candidates are required to submit their applications exclusively online, providing a passport photo, academic documents, and a national ID.
According to Major General Felix Kulayigye, Director of Defence Public Information, successful online applicants will be shortlisted, with their names uploaded onto the official UPDF website and simultaneously shared with respective district headquarters.
Major General Kulayigye elaborated that the physical recruitment phase will span the entire country, encompassing all 135 districts and 11 cities.
Shortlisted candidates will be required to report individually to their assigned recruitment centers for physical and medical interviews.
They must bring a handwritten application letter bearing recommendations from their Local Council I (LCI), LCII, LCIII Chairpersons, and GISO/DISO, along with their national identity card, original and photocopies of academic documents, and three color passport-size photographs.
The recruitment quotas for each district and city will be determined based on population figures from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), as of June 2024.
Successful applicants will each receive an introduction card to be presented upon their arrival at the assigned training centers.
The recruitment drive targets both general academic qualifications and specific professional fields.
For general recruitment, candidates holding a Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) and aged between 18 and 22 years will be considered.
On the professional side, the UPDF is seeking Grade Five teachers, specifically diploma holders from recognized teacher training institutions, aged between 20 and 25 years.
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The UPDF is also actively recruiting professionals to bolster its Air Force capabilities, with an age limit of 18 to 30 years for these specialized roles.
Qualifications relevant to the Air Force will be paramount, including, but not limited to, pilot instructors, qualified pilots, aircraft maintenance engineers, qualified air traffic controllers, and meteorologists.
Additionally, graduates with a Bachelor of Science degree in fields such as Telecommunication Engineering, Information Technology, Software Engineering, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering are encouraged to apply.
Online applications will be open for a limited window, from Monday, July 7, to Friday, July 11.
Major General Kulayigye reiterated a critical point: “Recruitment into the UPDF is free of charge, so no one should pay any money to any individual or group.” This emphasizes the integrity of the process and warns against fraudulent schemes.
