UPDF is set to recruit a total of 300 youth from Karamoja region as top up to Local Defense Unit personnel. The 300 will be recruited from the 4 districts that are part of 3rd Division i.e Moroto, Napak, Nakapiripirit and Amudat while Kaboong and Kotido will be considered under 5 Division.
The exercise is to keep the 2000 LDU force in Karamoja region as was directed by the Commander in Chief President Yoweri Museveni to boost the efforts of the UPDF as a force multiplier in the disarmament exercise way back in 2010. All terms and modalities have been agreed on and all is set for the recruitment to start on 2nd January 2012.
The 3rd Division Operations and Training Officer, Col Francis Chemo will lead the exercise . On the side of local leaders from LC 5, 3,2 an1, the GISOs, DISOs, RDCs we require their full support and involvement.
Extra caution will be taken to avoid recruiting wrong elements.
Local leaders have been accordingly warned against forging papers or recommending criminals/foreigners for recruitment into the force, as they would be acting contrary to the national interest.
The new recruits are to fill the gaps of those LDUs who could have deserted, failed to finish training or left the force under different circumstances that befall forces.
The new recruits will join their colleagues after three months trainining and each of them will be paid 130, 000 shillings, half a salary of a UPDF private.
As UPDF operating in Karamoja we have confidence in the performance of the LDUs in the region on disarmament exercise. The mission of their recruitment so far has been attained well over 70% according to the appraisal we did recently.
The exercise will be conducted on these dates as indicated against the districts.
By Captain Deo Akiiki
3rd army spokesman