22-year-old collapses, dies during Uganda army recruitment exercise

APAC - A 22-year-old man has collapsed and died during a Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) recruitment exercise in Apac district.

The death on Friday, August 15, 2025, came shortly after the now deceased Solomon Dono completed a mandatory physical fitness run, according to a statement the army issued shortly after.

Dono was participating in a short-distance run, one of the compulsory stages of the recruitment process.

Apac Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Andrew Onyuk said Dono collapsed after completing the race and was immediately attended to by medical personnel on site. 

“He was rushed in an ambulance, which was following the runners, to a nearby hospital. Unfortunately, upon arrival, he could not make it,” Onyuk said, noting that a post-mortem examination was to be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.

Onyuk extended condolences to Dono’s family and praised the recruitment team for their swift intervention.

He further reported that another applicant also collapsed during the initial run but was placed under medical care and stabilised.

Apac district RDC Andrew Onyuk addresses shortlisted applicants. (Courtesy Photo)

Col. David Opeero, the head of the recruitment team, said the recruitment process consists of four stages: Verification of shortlisted candidates, document checks, preliminary medical screening and the run, followed by a comprehensive medical examination. 

Recruitment Outcomes

"Despite the incident, the exercise continued, producing successful recruits in both Apac and Kwania districts," the statement reads.

In Apac district, out of 91 shortlisted applicants, 56 were successful: 44 male regular recruits, 10 female regular recruits, and two male professionals.

In Kwania district, 38 out of 75 shortlisted applicants were successful, comprising 33 male regular recruits, three female regular recruits, and two professionals.