Article 17 of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda and Section 31 of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) Act 7 of 2005 empower the Commander-In-Chief to order all or part of the Reserve Force to be on continuing full-time military service for such a period of time as he (C-In-C) may determine.
As such the UPDF leadership through the office of General Officer Commanding Reserve Forces (GOC-RF) will conduct a four-day countrywide call up of 2,752 reservists from 20-23 January 2020.
The mobilized veterans will form Uganda Battle Groups Thirty-One and Thirty-Two (UGABAG XXXI and UGABAG XXXII) to augment UPDF operations under African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
This call up targets only the honorably discharged/retired UPDF veterans from the rank of Major and below. Candidates must be aged 55 years and below, have no criminal record, and in possession of original national IDs as well as discharge/retirement certificates. The candidates will be screened for physical, medical and mental fitness.
It should be noted that this is not the first call up of reservists. Battle Groups Nine Plus (UGABAG 9+) of 2012 comprised of reservists. UGABAG XXX that is at its final stage of pre-mission training for the Somalia mission is also comprised of reservists.
The UPDF is committed to building its Reserve Force as part of its professionalization drive.
