Applicant arrested over Sh20,000 bribe attempt to join UPDF in Masindi

Masindi:  Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) recruitment officials in Masindi have arrested an applicant accused of attempting to bribe the recruitment team with Sh20,000.

The suspect, identified as Emmanuel Kyakabaale Tayebwa, was arrested at about 5:00 p.m. on Monday, August 10, 2026, at Masindi District Headquarters during the UPDF recruitment exercise.

Kyakabaale, a resident of Kimengo Sub-county, had reportedly passed through several stages of the recruitment process and was awaiting medical examination when he was arrested.

He had initially been rejected after failing to present his Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) certificate. At the time, he reportedly had only a Primary Seven certificate and a Senior Four pass slip.

After being asked to produce his Ordinary Level certificate, Kyakabaale presented a scanned copy that had been sent to his phone. However, further verification revealed discrepancies between the names on his National Identity Card and academic documents.

His National ID reportedly bore the name “Emmanuel Kyakaale Tatwebwa,” while his academic documents carried the name “Kyakabaale Emmanuel.”

According to the recruitment team, Kyakabaale allegedly offered Sh20,000 to four officers conducting the verification, claiming the money was meant to buy water.

Brig. Gen. Rogers Kitwala, recruitment team leader for the Mid-Western Region and Deputy Commander of the Field Artillery Division, said he had initially rejected the applicant but later gave him another opportunity following calls from several individuals on his behalf.

“I had initially rejected him, but I was overwhelmed by calls from various people, so I gave him another chance. That is when he was arrested.”

Kyakabaale was later handed over to Masindi Central Police Station for further inquiries.

Brig. Gen. Kitwala warned applicants against using forged documents or attempting to bribe recruitment officials, saying such actions would attract arrest and legal consequences.

“We are doing everything in a transparent manner: no nepotism, no bribes. Everything is done fairly. You don’t bribe to become a soldier.”

Name discrepancies, forgery derail recruitment

The arrest came amid widespread disqualifications during the Masindi recruitment exercise, with more than 40 applicants discontinued over issues including mismatched names, missing original academic certificates, medical grounds and alleged forgery.

The UPDF was recruiting 23 professionals and 50 regular officers from Masindi.

Brig. Gen. Kitwala said 209 applicants had initially been shortlisted, comprising 120 professionals and 89 regular candidates. However, only 55 professionals and 76 regular candidates turned up for the exercise.

Of the 55 professionals who appeared, 22 were discontinued, mainly over missing original certificates and discrepancies between academic documents and National IDs.

Among the 76 regular applicants who turned up, 31 were discontinued over similar issues, including alleged forgery.

Some applicants reportedly presented academic documents with different names across certificates, while others had inconsistencies in the years appearing on their academic qualifications. Applicants suspected of presenting forged documents were handed over to investigators.

Brig. Gen. Kitwala said the recruitment exercise seeks Ugandans who are physically fit, disciplined, patriotic, professionally competent and free from criminal records.

“Every district has a quota in relation to the national population census. We want people who are capable, professional, patriotic, disciplined, and have no criminal record. We want people who will serve the country with honor.”

Applicants were required to have valid National Identity Cards and meet physical and academic requirements. Professionals were also required to be below 35 years of age, among other conditions.

Recruitment expands across Bunyoro

The Masindi exercise is part of the wider UPDF recruitment drive being conducted across the country.

According to Brig. Gen. Kitwala, recruitment will be conducted across the districts of the Bunyoro sub-region, including Masindi, Hoima, Kiryandongo, Buliisa, Kibaale, Kagadi, and Kakumiro.

He said the recruitment team expects to select 599 recruits from the midwestern region.

The exercise has also encountered applicants presenting forged papers, missing academic documents and other issues that disqualify them from joining the force.

Brig. Gen. Kitwala urged parents to encourage their children to pursue education instead of helping them obtain forged academic qualifications.

“My appeal to parents is that they should take their children to school instead of helping them forge papers.”

Professionals being considered for recruitment include lawyers, welders, civil engineers, electrical engineers and others with specialised skills.

He also encouraged young Ugandans interested in joining the UPDF to take advantage of the recruitment opportunity and report with genuine and properly matching documents.

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