UPDF Starts Recruiting LDUs Next Week

President Yoweri Museveni, while addressing the nation about the state of the security of the country recently, said Local Defence Units (LDUs) will be recruited in order to curb the increasing crime characterized by the assassination of top government officials and personalities.

It has now emerged that Uganda People’s Defence Force ( UPDF) will embark on the recruitment of LDUs to patrol the city come next week..

According to a letter dated September 22, 2018 authored by UPDF Spokesman, Brigadier Richard Karemire, the recruitment exercise of LDUs will start on Tuesday September25, 2018.

The letter says that the recruitment exercise is in fulfillment of the directive issued by the Commander in Chief of all armed forces, President Yoweri Museveni, who announced during national security on state of security to have LDUs brought on board to supplement Police and UPDF.

“In fulfillment of this directive, UPDF announces that the recruitment of the Local Defence Unit personnel from the districts of Kampala, Mukono and Wakiso will take place starting 25^th September and end 1^st October 2018,” Karemire’s letter reads in part.

According to the letter obtained by this site, all those interested in joining this Force will have to prove their citizenship by presenting their national identity card, aged 18-35years, and must have a recommendation letter from LC1, Secretary Defence, PISO, GISO.

The state of candidate’s healthy features top on the list of things they have to fulfill, with UPDF demanding from those interested to be healthy, medically fit, ready to undergo medical and physical body checks and a road run to test endurance and body fitness.

“Medical, mental and physical fitness will be checked at the recruitment centres as well as at the training school,” the letter adds.

Museveni made the announcement to recruit LDUs following the assassination of former Buyende DPC, Mohammed Kirumira who was gunned down on his way home in Busega alongside his friend, Resty Nalinya.

Kirumira’s assassination proceeded that of former Arua Municipality MP, Ibrahim Abiriga, who was also assassinated alongside his brother Saidi Kongo in Kawanda on 8^th June 2018.

Other prominent murders include ‘Afande’ Felix Kaweesi with his body guards, Joan Kagezi and several Muslim clerics.

In all the murders, eye witnesses have revealed to have seen two people riding on motor bikes fire at their targets before driving off. But despite these clues, no one has been convicted, let alone any report being made public.

Although UPDF letter didn’t indicate the number of LDUs to be recruited, it is reported that about 24,000 LDUs will be recruited to lookout for suspicious individuals in and around Kampala.