Thirteen individuals have been apprehended in Kagadi District for submitting falsified academic credentials during the ongoing Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) recruitment drive. The arrests came after a thorough verification of the original documents presented by applicants.
The suspects, consisting of 11 men and two women, were found with counterfeit Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) slips, forged Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) certificates, fabricated testimonials claiming to have completed Senior Four in 2024, and fake identification cards.
Kagadi Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Nanshemeza Caroline denounced the offence, calling it unnecessary in light of Uganda’s provision of free primary and secondary schooling. “Submitting forged academic papers is a criminal offence in this country. Why engage in such behaviour when free education is available? I encourage parents and guardians to utilise government programmes to ensure their children obtain the education they deserve,” she stated.
The accused have been transferred to police custody for further inquiries.
Captain Wilson Kato Agaba, Public Information Officer for UPDF Recruitment Team 5 in the Bunyoro Region, issued a stern warning against attempts to bypass the process dishonestly. “We have a skilled and committed screening team capable of swiftly detecting fake academic qualifications. Do not risk bringing them to the recruitment centre,” he cautioned.
Out of 88 candidates who were shortlisted, 61 — including four women — successfully joined the UPDF in Kagadi. The recruitment team is set to proceed to Kibaale District before wrapping up the exercise in Kakumiro District later this week.
