Hundreds of eager individuals from various parishes in Kasese district found themselves stranded on Wednesday, January 11, 2024, as the anticipated Local Defense Unit (LDU) recruitment in the mayor’s gardens in Kasese municipality was unexpectedly postponed. The hopeful candidates, gathered since 7:00 am, had aimed to be the early birds in response to the presidential directive to reinforce the nation’s security.
Despite having followed the initially scheduled recruitment date of January 10, 2024, the assembled residents were left waiting for more than three hours without any official attending to them. Frustrated by the lack of information, they decided to storm the office of the Resident District Commissioner (RDC), where Deputy RDC Zepher Mubingwa conveyed the unexpected news of the recruitment’s postponement, promising that the new date would be communicated.
Among those affected, Albert Muhindo, who had eagerly left home with dreams of joining the security forces, expressed disappointment but vowed to wait patiently for the rescheduled date. Similarly, Jaida Biira, aged 20, shared her aspirations of joining the LDU and later the army, emphasizing how the delay has momentarily hindered her dreams. Isaac Muhindo, motivated by personal loss due to a suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel attack, expressed a strong desire to join the security forces to contribute to regional peace.
Deputy RDC Zepher Mubingwa, astonished by the overwhelming turnout, acknowledged the challenges faced in coordinating the recruitment exercises across various districts. He emphasized the need for patience among the people of Kasese, assuring them that official communication of the new date would be disseminated through radios, churches, and local leaders.
The recruitment postponement in Kasese is part of a broader initiative following President Museveni’s directive issued on December 20, 2023. The directive called for the reactivation of Local Defence Units in areas surrounding Queen Elizabeth National Parks, Kibaale Forests, Kyenjojo and Kagadi forests, Semuliki National Park, and Bwindi National Park. This decision was prompted by multiple attacks in 2023, suspected to be orchestrated by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). Museveni’s approach aims to transform vulnerable civilian areas into fortified local hard points to counter the attacks on unarmed civilians. The president emphasized deploying additional resources to support manpower in these regions.
