Over 60,000 applicants disqualified in ongoing UPDF recruitment drive

More than 60,000 Ugandans have been disqualified from the ongoing nationwide recruitment exercise by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), which aims to enlist 11,500 new soldiers.

The mass recruitment drive, conducted between July 7 and July 11, 2025, began with an online application phase via the UPDF website. According to Maj Gen Felix Kulaigye, director of Defence Public Information, the army received 78,000 applications from aspiring recruits.

However, only 13,000 applicants qualified for the next stage, leaving approximately 65,000 disqualified due to failure to meet initial requirements.

Kulaigye said the next phase will involve physical screening at designated district recruitment centres from August 5 to 15. He added that this stage will narrow down the number of successful applicants from 13,000 to the final 11,500 target.

The UPDF also issued a caution to applicants with medical conditions such as bow-leggedness, cross-eyedness, or ringworm to refrain from attending the physical screening, as they are unlikely to meet the required medical standards.

The recruitment exercise is part of the UPDF’s broader effort to strengthen the force while ensuring that only physically and medically fit candidates are enlisted to serve the country.