Lira – Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces [UPDF] through her mother, Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs will in two weeks’ time commence fresh recruitment of regular and professionals men and women to join the force.
In a press statement dated 7th December, 2019, it reads: “In 2004 the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs [MoDVA] undertook a comprehensive program to transform the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces [UPDF] into a modern, professional and accountable force subordinate to the civilian authority. This undertaking has enabled the UPDF to acquire requisite skills and capabilities to defend and protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Uganda.”
According to the December 7th press statement authored by Defence Spokesperson, Brig Richard Karemire, “peace and stability remain a fundamental perquisite for socio-economic transformation for any country. It’s therefore envisaged in the Uganda Vision2040 that Uganda can only harness her abundant opportunities and achieve is aspirations when there is absolute tranquillity.”
In that communication to the public, 4,000 personnel will be recruited starting on December 27 this year till 5 January 2020 and like previous recruitments, this fresh recruitment aims at attracting “very composed and patriotic Ugandans ready to serve in regular and professional and specialized units”.
With Lango sub-region’s recruitment scheduled for 2nd and 3rd January 2020, natives have been urged to embrace the development and join the peoples’ forces – the UPDF.
Speaking to TND News on Monday afternoon, Emily Akullu Omacara, the Alebtong women council chairperson asks Lango professionals and leaders at all levels to embrace the recruitment.
“I’m drumming for massive turn-up for the recruitment so we get crème dela crème. Lango should turn-up because military is a national service; got nothing to do with politics,” she says.
“My strongest urge is that professional should come and join the UPDF because when you join as a professional, you are privileged. Lango should not think about the [negativity] some people are talking about,” Ms Omacara added.
According to her, “Some people are saying professionals are recruited to go for war. It’s not about the perception that they will be trained and taken for war. For you to serve, you must be patriotic.”
Ms Akullu – who’s also an independent policy analyst says the army is expanding. “We have the engineering brigade and some will be building railways, roads, hospitals like that at Mbuya, et all.
She also reasons that the army need manpower to man such facilities like army hospitals in Mbuya and Bombo which have offered ‘excellent medical services’ many civilian patients.
Terming this recruitment “not about politics and should not be taken as such”, policy analyst, Akullu told TND News: “The recruitment is to fulfill the mission of professionalizing the army and they are asking for those who have done sciences.”
Asked by TND News’ Milton Emmy Akwam “Why now as Uganda heads for 2021 polls?” she responded that the exercise is an annual event, adding that “Lango should not lag behind; should not take some opinions of the people who don’t know the “Why”.
In the British time, she says Lango people were widely recognised by the Briton because of our “physique”.
“I ask the professionals who have passed the age bracket and other requirements to encourage their neighbours, brothers and sisters. Lango leaders to do the same,” she appeals.
According to defence spokesperson, Brig Richard Karemire, regular recruits should be from 18- 25 years while professionals should be from 18 to 30 years of age.
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