The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has launched a nationwide recruitment drive to fill vacancies created by upcoming retirements and support the expansion of military services, including staffing a new national referral hospital.
The army plans to recruit more than 10,000 personnel between June and August, targeting both general recruits and specialised professionals across various fields.
Acting UPDF spokesperson Col Chris Magezi said applications will be submitted online between 10 and 24 June, after which shortlisted candidates will be published on district notice boards, city halls and the UPDF website.
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A circular issued by the Chief of Staff, Lt Gen Jack Bakasumba, and distributed through the Office of the President to local governments, indicates that the force intends to recruit about 10,200 personnel. The intake will include Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) graduates, as well as professionals with scientific and technical qualifications.
“Physical recruitment will be conducted in all districts and cities from 20th July to 1st August. During the exercise, we will use figures from the Uganda National Population and Housing Census 2024 to determine quotas for each district. This is to avoid claims of favoritism in the recruitment process,” Magezi said.
According to the UPDF, general recruits must possess either a UCE or UACE certificate, be aged between 18 and 25 years, and must have completed their examinations in 2024 or 2025.
The specialised category will target professionals in information and communications technology, engineering, logistics, aviation, meteorology, healthcare, law, education, sports, arts, social sciences and psychology.
Magezi said the recruitment is intended to address staffing gaps resulting from the retirement of serving personnel while also supporting the operationalisation of the UPDF National Referral Hospital in Mbuya.
“As long as people turn up, we are ready to take in as many as we can. The UPDF has grown in stature and size over the years and is still expanding. We have many projects; for instance, we have a fully-fledged National Referral Hospital. So the more qualified and competent officers we get, the better,” he said.
The UPDF spokesperson noted that the hospital is not yet operating at full capacity because procurement of specialised medical and laboratory equipment is still ongoing.
“Procurement of the equipment we currently need is still ongoing. This is advanced medical equipment for diagnostic investigations. Most importantly, this National Referral Hospital sits above Bombo General Hospital. It will do wonders for us by reducing the cost of sending people to Nairobi and India for specialized treatment,” Magezi stated.
He added that members of the public will be able to access services at the facility, although specialised treatment will be offered on a paid basis to maintain service standards.
The recruitment exercise comes ahead of a major retirement phase within the military. More than 500 officers are expected to retire next month, including four-star General Katumba Wamala, a former Chief of Defence Forces and former Minister of Works and Transport who was recently appointed to the Public Service.
Under UPDF regulations, generals and lieutenant generals retire at the age of 65, while major generals retire at 62.
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