UPDF Officer Faces Backlash for Allegedly Duping Kashari Youths into False Employment Offers
A group of residents in Kashari South, Mbarara district, western Uganda, has voiced grievances against Lt. Col. Jackson Kakuru, a serving officer in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), accusing him of deceiving them with promises of non-existent employment opportunities.
According to the aggrieved individuals, Lt. Col. Kakuru, through intermediaries, mobilized youth from various parts of the area, enticing them with the prospect of lucrative jobs in Kampala, with promised salaries ranging from 300,000 to 500,000 Shillings.
However, upon arriving in Kampala, the disillusioned youths claim they discovered that the only available positions were for security guards with the private firm Saracen. Subsequently, they were transported to Garuga-Entebbe for training.
Following their arrival in Garuga, Entebbe, some of the youths expressed their discontent and opted to escape from the training center, returning to their homes in Kashari.
Reports suggest that Lt. Col. Kakuru is linked to Saracen as one of its agents, further fueling suspicions regarding the authenticity of the job offers presented to the youths.
Perez Mbagaya, a former salon operator from Bwizibwera Town, recounted how he was approached by an individual named Kaguta, who claimed that Lt. Col. Kakuru had secured employment opportunities in Entebbe with salaries starting from 350,000 Shillings. However, upon arrival at Global Bus, Mbagaya and other youths were shocked to learn about the security training they were slated to undergo, rather than the factory jobs they had been promised.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Brian Bakashaba, who expressed his disappointment after realizing that the promised employment opportunities turned out to be security training, a field he had no interest in pursuing. Bakashaba recounted the challenges he faced during his escape from the training center and his subsequent journey back home.
Ritus Ninsiima, another victim, shared her experience of being misled with promises of sugar and yogurt packing jobs in Kampala, only to find herself in Garuga near Lake Victoria undergoing security training. Ninsiima’s mother lamented the lack of transparency regarding her daughter’s recruitment, expressing gratitude for her safe return home despite the ordeal.
Local leaders, including Emmanuel Mujuni, the LC1 Chairman of Bwizibwera Upper Cell, denounced the recruitment process, stating that many youths were taken using forged documents without proper consultation with community leaders.
Emmy Katera Turyabagyenyi, the Mbarara District Resident District Commissioner (RDC), emphasized the importance of verifying job recruitment initiatives and urged individuals to liaise with the RDC’s office to ensure proper record-keeping.
In response to the allegations, Lt. Col. Jackson Kakuru defended his actions, stating that mobilizing youths for training in Entebbe was a directive from his superiors. He maintained that the recruitment initiative aimed to enhance the skills of young people and was conducted in collaboration with Saracen Security Company.
Despite the controversy surrounding the recruitment process, Lt. Col. Kakuru urged those who failed to complete the training to accept their circumstances, cautioning against politicization of the issue and emphasizing the reputable status of Saracen Security Company.
He further stated that the recruitment was sanctioned by his superiors as part of a national programme aimed at fostering civic responsibility. He emphasized the legitimacy of Saracen Security Company and urged those who failed to complete training to accept responsibility for their decisions.
