Man Arrested for Alleged 20,000 Shillings Bribe Attempt During UPDF Recruitment

A man, identified as Emmanuel Kyakabaale Tayebwa, 20, faces charges for allegedly trying to bribe UPDF recruitment officers in Masindi. The incident unfolded at the Masindi district headquarters, a site for the ongoing Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) recruitment exercise.

Tayebwa, from Kimengo sub-county, was initially turned away by the recruitment team after he failed to produce his Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) certificate. He had presented a primary school certificate and a senior four pass slip. He later attempted to present a scanned ordinary level certificate via his mobile phone.

Recruitment officials noted discrepancies between the name on his national ID, Emmanuel Kyakaale Tatwebwa, and his academic documents, which stated Kyakabaale Emmanuel. It was during this verification process that Tayebwa allegedly offered 20,000 shillings to four verifying officers.

Brig. Rogers Kitwala, head of the recruitment team, stated that Tayebwa claimed the money was intended to purchase water for the officers. The applicant was subsequently arrested and handed over to Masindi Central Police Station for further investigation.

Brig. Kitwala issued a stern warning against the submission of forged or altered documents, emphasizing that offenders would face arrest and prosecution. The arrest highlights issues encountered during the recruitment, where numerous applicants have been disqualified for issues related to documentation, identification, and medical fitness.

The UPDF plans to recruit 23 professional and 50 regular officers from Masindi district as part of a wider recruitment drive across the Bunyoro sub-region, aiming to enlist 599 individuals in total from eight districts. Applicants are urged to present authentic documents and refrain from any attempts at bribery.

Source: The Observer (Uganda)