A Local Defence Unit (LDU) applicant identified as Mr Kibirango Jastus Arseman was on Tuesday arrested for attempting to bribe a Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) officer in order to be recruited into the force.
This happened during the recruitment exercise for applicants from Mukono and Buikwe districts that commenced at Jinja Airstrip on Tuesday.
Mr Kibirango, 21, a resident of Najjembe Town Council in Buikwe District, reportedly offered Shs10,000 to the officer as a bribe.
When asked why he attempted to bribe the UPDF officer at the rank of Major, Kibirango said he was late and his colleagues had already left him yet he desperately wanted to join the force.
UPDF spokesperson for Jinja Zone, Lt Jude Wandera confirmed the arrest of the suspect, saying he would be handed over to the police.
"You can't bribe a UPDF officer. This exercise has been clearly announced and there was no money element indicated in the announcement," he said.
Lt Wandera said they only wanted 290 applicants from Busoga sub-region and greater Mukono, however, some of the applicants who had not been shortlisted also showed up for interviews.
The nationwide exercise is targeting 10,000 LDU recruits who will be distributed for training in the various army training institutions and colleges across the country.
