The Uganda Prisons Service (UPS) has cautioned the public about fraudulent recruitment advertisements circulating online. Frank Baine, the spokesperson for UPS, issued the warning during the weekly security press briefing at the Uganda Police Force headquarters on Monday.
Baine clarified that the Uganda Prisons Service is currently not conducting any recruitment. He emphasized that when recruitments occur, official announcements are made through radio, television, and nationwide notifications. Baine urged the public to be cautious and refrain from sharing suspicious job materials on social media, as such actions contribute to fraud and victimization.
The caution comes after reports that hundreds of Ugandans fell victim to a scam where a fraudster extracted a press release from two years ago, falsely claiming that UPS was inviting applications from the public. The fraudulent individual removed dates and other details before circulating the misleading information in the media.
Baine highlighted that some victims reported being asked to deposit money, such as sh50,000, under the false pretense of downloading an application form.
The UPS regularly opens recruitment to replenish its workforce. According to the UPS website, applicants must be Ugandan citizens with a minimum qualification of Senior Six or its equivalent. Additional requirements include having no criminal record, being aged between 18-25 years, and being physically fit for the mandatory 12-month basic prisons course.
Despite the high unemployment rate in Uganda, where over 700,000 graduates enter the job market annually, only about 90,000 manage to secure employment, according to recent reports.