A 20-year-old man accused of defiling a 16-year-old girl has been arrested after he was shortlisted for the ongoing Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) recruitment exercise in Lira City.
The suspect, identified as Michael Ojok, was arrested on Monday by UPDF Recruitment Team Six at the Lira recruitment centre during the physical screening of candidates from Alebtong and Otuke districts.
Ojok, a resident of Agali Village, Akware Parish, Adwari Sub-County in Otuke District, is accused of defiling a 16-year-old girl in 2025. The case had already been reported to Otuke Police Station under reference number SD 27/06/07/2025.
Despite the pending case, Ojok reportedly managed to pass the initial stages of the UPDF recruitment process and was shortlisted among the candidates who proceeded to the physical screening exercise.
It was during the screening process that the recruitment team discovered the outstanding case against him, leading to his arrest.
The arrest has once again highlighted the importance of thorough background checks during military recruitment exercises. Such checks help authorities identify applicants with pending criminal cases before they are admitted into the armed forces.
Ojok is expected to be handed over to the relevant authorities to face the legal process regarding the defilement allegations. He remains a suspect and is entitled to due process under the law.
