news 11 August 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Over 50 Applicants Disqualified in Kabale UPDF Recruitment Drive
More than 50 aspiring recruits were turned away during the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) recruitment exercise in Kabale District on Monday. The disqualifications were attributed to health issues and candidates not appearing on the official shortlist. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/over-50-rejected-in-kabale-as-updf-recruitment-starts-5553744
The ongoing Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) recruitment drive in Kabale District saw a significant number of hopefuls turned away on Monday. Over 50 individuals failed to meet the enlistment criteria, leading to their disqualification from the exercise.
According to Major Edward Birungi, spokesperson for the UPDF recruitment team in Western Uganda, the primary reasons for disqualification were health complications identified during screening and the absence of candidates’ names on the official shortlist. “After health screening, about 20 candidates were disqualified because of health-related issues, while about 30 candidates were disqualified because they were not shortlisted,” Maj Birungi stated.
He further elaborated that the recruitment process involved a thorough verification of academic credentials and recommendation letters submitted via the online application portal to ensure their authenticity before any final enlistment. Maj Birungi encouraged those who did not make the cut to try again in future recruitment cycles.
However, the disqualification process left many young aspirants disillusioned. Several candidates, including those holding university degrees, expressed frustration, attributing their rejection to glitches or issues with the online application system. They claimed to have submitted all required documents, yet their names were inexplicably missing from the shortlisted candidates list displayed at the Kabale Stadium.
The UPDF had previously advertised that applicants must be Ugandan citizens with a valid National ID, be physically and medically fit, possess a clean criminal record, and have endorsements from local authorities and security officers.