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400 youth miss Army recruitment over HIV and Hepatitis B
Youth getting a military drill in Apac last week during a two day recruitment exercise. Photo by Geoffrey Omara
What you need to know:
The ongoing exercise is aimed at recruiting over 3,000 youth to serve in UPDF
A total of 400 youth in the three districts of Apac, Oyam and Kole, have missed out on the ongoing army recruitment after testing HIV/Aids and Hepatitis B positive.
During the recruitment Exercise at Apac Primary School, the head of recruitment team North-Eastern,
Col Stephen Mugerwa, said most of the youth in the three district were found to have HIV/ Aids and Hepatitis B, thus disqualified.
“Out of 310 youth who were medically examined in the three districts, most of them were found to be HIV/Aids and hepatitis B positive and they could not be absorbed,” he said and added that similar cases were also seen in Lira district and many were also turned down.
He tasked the leaders in the region to sensitise the locals on the benefits of immunizing for Hepatitis B.
Fifth Division infantry army spokesman Capt Telefphor Turyamumanya,
said, the turn up was overwhelming but many youth turned up without the required qualifications while others had forged academic documents.
In Apac, Oyam and Kole, Lira, Otuke, Alebtong and Kole only 74 youth were recruited.
District Internal Security Officer Mr Emmanuel Odui, warned youth against joining the army as their last resort after failing to get jobs from other sector.
“Serving the national army needs one to be patriotic and discipline and not because he thinks they have failed in life,” he said.
The ongoing exercise is aimed at recruiting over 3,000 youth to serve in UPDF. It started on October 13 and is expected to end on 26th of this very month.
