KAMPALA, Uganda — The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) has launched a nationwide recruitment exercise for 2026, seeking to enlist qualified Ugandan citizens into both regular military service and a wide range of specialized professional roles.
In a public announcement issued on Friday, the military said the recruitment drive will be conducted in line with district and city quotas derived from the 2024 National Population and Housing Census. The exercise is aimed at attracting disciplined, patriotic and law abiding Ugandans willing to serve in the armed forces.
The recruitment process will be conducted in three phases beginning with online applications from June 10 to June 24. Prospective candidates will be required to submit applications through the UPDF recruitment portal, accompanied by a passport photograph, academic documents from recognized institutions and a valid National Identity Card.
The second phase will involve shortlisting successful applicants between July 1 and July 14. The names of shortlisted candidates will be published on the UPDF website and displayed at district and city headquarters across the country.
Physical recruitment and medical assessments will then take place from July 20 to Aug. 1 at designated centers nationwide. Candidates who make it to this stage will be required to present a handwritten application endorsed by Local Council I, II and III chairpersons, the District Internal Security Officer or Gombolola Internal Security Officer, and the Resident District Commissioner. They must also present their National Identification Card, original and certified academic documents where applicable, and three colored passport size photographs.
According to the UPDF, all applicants must be adult Ugandan citizens, physically and medically fit, free of criminal records and residents of the areas where they intend to apply.
The recruitment targets a broad range of categories, including general recruits, information and communications technology specialists, engineers, logistics personnel, aviation professionals, health workers, legal practitioners, graduate teachers, sports personnel, social scientists and musicians.
For regular military recruitment, candidates aged between 18 and 22 years with Uganda Certificate of Education qualifications obtained in 2024 or 2025 will be considered. Advanced entry categories will require Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education qualifications, diplomas or university degrees depending on the role.
Specialized positions include pilots, aircraft maintenance engineers, air traffic controllers, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, teachers, software engineers, cybersecurity specialists and lawyers, among others. Most professional categories have age limits ranging from 25 to 35 years and require relevant academic qualifications, licenses or work experience.
The UPDF has also encouraged women with professional qualifications to apply, emphasizing the importance of increasing female participation in specialized military services.
Military authorities warned the public against paying money to individuals claiming to facilitate recruitment, stressing that the entire exercise is free of charge. The force said no agents or intermediaries have been authorized and urged members of the public to report cases of fraud to the police, security officials or nearby UPDF units.
The military further cautioned that anyone found presenting forged academic documents or identification records will be arrested and prosecuted.
Successful candidates will be issued introduction cards and directed to report to designated training centers for military training.
The recruitment exercise is among the largest undertaken by the UPDF in recent years and is expected to provide opportunities for thousands of young Ugandans seeking careers in both combat and professional military service.
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