The Territorial Police in the North Kyoga Region, Lira City, have arrested three suspects for attempting to bribe a UNEB scout in an effort to influence the conduct of the forthcoming Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE).
The suspects include Odongo George, Director of Atura Community Day Primary School; Ekut Simon, aged 32, a former teacher at the same school; and Awoko Lavoiser, aged 26, a teacher at St. Gracious Primary School, Barapwo, Lira City West Division.
The trio allegedly attempted to bribe a UNEB scout from Lira who had been assigned to supervise the PLE in Oyam District. They offered the scout a bribe of Uganda Shillings One Million (UGX 1,000,000).
The act was intended to compromise the integrity of the national examinations, which are scheduled to commence tomorrow.
Police, acting swiftly on a tip-off, arrested the suspects at Garden Hotel, Lira City, and recovered the money, which has been exhibited as evidence.
Investigations are ongoing, and the suspects will be arraigned before court. They will be charged under Section 26(1)(g) of the UNEB Act, Cap 259, which provides for a maximum term of imprisonment of five years upon conviction, or a fine of twenty million shillings, or both.
The UNEB Executive Director, Mr. Dan Odongo, has cautioned the public and all those involved in the supervision of the PLE examinations to desist from engaging in acts that aid or abet examination malpractice.
UNEB is working closely with the Police and other security agencies, who will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute anyone attempting to compromise the credibility of the national examinations, regardless of their status.
