23-year-old dies during Busoga UPDF recruitment exercise, family not compensated

The recruits were subjected to the run to prove their physical fitness before they could be absorbed into the army

On the fateful day, he was part of a group of unemployed youths who showed up for the interview for a chance to serve under the UPDF. The group was made to go through a 5-Kilometre run as part of their physical fitness test.

At the end of the run, Weyansya collapsed and was promptly taken to the hospital where the doctors pronounced him dead.

In an interview with local media house, UPDF 1st Division spokesperson Major Charles Kabona substantiated the incident.

However he noted that the deceased's family will not be receiving compensation because Weyansya had not been recruited at the time of his death.

“Because we have not yet taken him over, we have no docket for that compensation,” Kabona said.

A number of young people who have fainted during the physical test have been declined from the program.

Some of the rejected youths, who have commented on the exercise under anonymity, have said that the exercise is not fair, because recruits are turned down without a hearing to explain their health conditions.

The UPDF is carrying out a nationwide exercise through which over 10,000 recruits will join the army. The exercise started on June 8, 2022 and will be ending on July 4, 2022.