Thembo Wilson Mbadi, 34, was on Friday arrested while attempting to extort money from unsuspecting applicants who had turned up for the UPDF recruitment exercise at Booma grounds, Kasese Municipality.
A man in
Kasese town has been arrested for allegedly extorting money from people
interested in joining Uganda People’s Defense Forces-UPDF.
Thembo
Wilson Mbadi, 34, was on Friday arrested while attempting to extort money from unsuspecting
applicants who had turned up for the UPDF recruitment exercise at Booma
grounds, Kasese Municipality.
Col. Rogers
Okiror, the team leader for the recruitment exercise for the mid-western region
said they received a tip-off on Thursday night about Thembo and dispatched
their team during the recruitment exercise.
According to
Okiror, the suspect promised to help people join the force if they give him
money.
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Apolot said
the suspect has been handed over to UPDF for disciplinary action.
Proscovia Kajumba,
said she gave 200,000 Shillings to her son who informed her that there was
someone in the army who would help him join.
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Meanwhile, a number of hopeful candidates were turned away during the
exercise in Kasese town.
Most of these were found with forged academic papers, and some had no National
IDs and recommendation letters from LC1 chairpersons, District Internal
Security Officer-DISO, and Resident District Commissioners- RDC. Others
were rejected on physical medical grounds while some were above the recommended
age of between 18-30 among other factors.
Col. Apolot said they only needed 160 recruits from the more than 5,000 youths
who had turned up for the exercise.
The
recruitment team zeroed on 200 who will then undergo further medical screening
before they are enrolled for military training.
