KAMPALA – The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has announced the recruitment of Local Defence Units (LDUs) to shore up security in Kampala metropolitan area in line with the recent presidential directive.
In a statement issued by Defence and army spokesperson Brig Richard Karemire on Saturday, the recruitment starts on 25th September and will take a week.
“The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Yoweri Museveni recently directed a call-up of reserves to support enforcement of law and order in Kampala Metropolitan Area. In fulfilment of this directive, UPDF announces that the recruitment of the Local Defence Units (LDUs) personnel from the Districts of Kampala, Mukono and Wakiso will take place starting on 25th September and end on 1st October 2018,” the statement reads in part.
Brig Richard Karemire said to apply, the recruits must be Ugandan citizens and must be in possession of an original National Identity Card. They must be healthy and medically fit; ready to undergo medical and physical body check and a road run to test endurance and body fitness.
“Medical, mental, and physical fitness will be checked at the recruitment centre as well as at the training school.”
He also revealed that recruits must be adults between 18 and 35 years and hold a minimum formal education of P.7 (PLE) to S.4 (UCE) “and preferably with no other formal engagement or employment.”
Recruits will need to come with “signed letters of recommendation” from LCI Chairperson, LC1 Secretary for Defence, PISO and GISO.
The recruits must be residents of the area; disciplined with no criminal record.
Karemire warned that “any presentation of forged documents is criminal, and culprits will be liable to prosecution.”
The UPDF has directed all members of the Security Committees and local leaders in the three Districts to “mobilize towards a successful completion of the exercise.”
Following the shooting dead of senior police officer Muhammad Kirumira, President Museveni directed the deployment of 24,000 Local Defense Unit security personnel and release of Uganda shilling 57 billion to fight urban criminals in Kampala and Wakiso districts.
On how these LDUs will be recruited, Gen. Museveni added that Local Council one Chairpersons, the majority of them belonging to NRM party, will vet them.
“LC One chairpersons to tell us who is good and bad for the task.”
According to the President, Crime Preventers, recently made part of the Reserve Force of the UPDF, will be deployed in Kampala and Wakiso as LDUs.
