The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) will conduct a recruitment exercise of 11,500 qualified citizens for regular forces and professionals scheduled to take place from Monday July 7th 2025 to Friday July 11th 2025 and this recruitment process will be conducted in two phases:
According to a press statement released today by the UPDF Spokesman Maj Gen Felix Kulayigye one process will be tbrough Online Application phase and all aspiring candidates must submit their applications Online through the official UPDF Recruitment Portal recruitment.updf.go.ug.
According to the statement, ghe candidates applying online will be required to upload an application bearing, Passport photo, Academic documents and National ID and successful applicants shall be shortlisted and uploaded on the UPDF website and shared with respective district headquarters.
The statement also indicated that there shall be physical recruitment that will take place throughout the country, covering the 135 districts and 11 Cities.
The shortlisted applicants will individually report at the assigned recruitment centres for the physical/medical interviews with the handwritten application bearing recommendations from LCI, II, III and GISO/DISO.
The applicants will also present the National Identity Card or NIN, Original and copies of academic documents and three (3) coloured passport-size photographs.
Recruitment will be conducted using the population figures of each District/City of Uganda based on data from Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), June 2024, that forms the basis of recruitment quotas.
The successful applicants will each be issued with an introduction card to be presented on arrival at the assigned training centres.
The recruits will be categorised into two batches based on ordinary academic qualifications and professions of general recruitment which cover regular forces who are holders of the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) and are between 18 and 22 years.
The statement also indicate that Grade Five teachers, Diploma Holders from recognised teacher training institutions of between 20 and 25 years.
Professionals with qualifications relevant to the Air Force must be between 18 and 30 years, including but not limited to Pilot Instructors who are qualified Pilots with a private pilot licence, commercial pilot license with instrument rating, instructor rating, and a background in a science combination at A-Level with two principal passes.
Qualified Pilots with a private pilot licence, commercial pilot license with instrument rating, instructor rating, and a background in a science combination at A-Level with two principal passes.
Aircraft Maintenance Engineers with a Diploma in aircraft maintenance, specialised in either Engine and Air frame or Avionics.
Qualified Air Traffic Controllers with any rating and a background of a BSc Degree with either Mathematics or Physics, Meteorologists with a BSc Degree or Diploma in Meteorology with a background in Physics, Economics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Geography.
Graduates with a BSc in Telecommunication Engineering, Information Technology, Software Engineering, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering.
Senior Six leavers with a science combination with a bias in Physics and Mathematics, must have obtained two principal passes, with 12 points and above and are between 18 – 23 years and Holders of the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education, 18 – 23 years must have got two Principal Passes with a score of 8 points and above.
Online Application from Monday 7th, July, 2025, to Friday 11th July, 2025 and shortlisted candidates will be published on the UPDF website and at District and City Headquarters notice boards.
Applicants will report to the recruitment centres within their districts of residence and the programme for the physical recruitment will be communicate professionals, S.6, Grade V teachers and Airforce will be centrally recruited at Kololo.
The Eligibility Criteria for all candidates must meet all the following conditions that include, Citizenship as all applicants must be Ugandan with a valid National ID and are between 18 and 22 years for general recruits, but higher age limits may apply for professionals.
Health and Fitness will be trsted and the applicants must be physically and medically fit and are Law-abiding with no criminal record and are Resident in the area of application.
The applicants need a recommendation that must be signed by LCI, LCII, LCIII Chairpersons GISO or DISO and the Resident District Commissioner (RDC).
The statement makes it categorically clear that recruitment into the UPDF is FREE OF CHARGE and applicants are askednot pay any money to any individual or group and should report any fraud of this nature to the nearest Police and female professionals are strongly encouraged to apply.
For professionals who include Air Force candidates, Grade Five Teachers, should attach certified copies of academic and professional documents.
The UPDF therefore invites all qualified, disciplined, and patriotic Ugandans to take advantage of this opportunity to serve their country. We wish all applicants success and look forward to welcoming new members into a service built on patriotism, discipline, nationalism and Pan-Africanism.
