Despite the Uganda National Examination Board’s (UNEB) strict warnings against exam malpractice, numerous incidents have been reported since the examination period began.
A total of about 21 teachers, scouts and invigilators have already been apprehended pending investigation to face court while others have already been sent to prison.
One notable case involved nine Primary Seven candidates from New Hope Children Centre in Bugiri District, who were found at Teso View in Iganga while hired teachers completed their exams for them. According to UNEB, these pupils were supposed to take the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) at Kasozi Primary School in Jinja.
However, their headteacher, Ronnie Kwagala, 29, allegedly arranged for others to take the exam in their place while the candidates sought refuge in Teso View Guest House.
The police have since arrested the headteacher, the lodge owner, and two attendants, all of whom are awaiting their day in court.
In Mpigi, seven individuals have been detained by police for their involvement in exam malpractice at St. Mugaga Primary School.
They are said to have entered the examination room during the mathematics test and provided unauthorized assistance to the students.
UNEB spokesperson Jennifer Kalule Nsamba reported that one teacher was caught writing answers on the blackboard for the candidates to copy.
“They were found by a UNEB scout who alerted police that immediately took action,” he added.
Several individuals have been taken into custody, including Charles Dhabangi, a UNEB Scout, along with Alex Dramadri, Olivia Nakasana, Margret Namukasa, Faridah Nabukenya, and Tibiwa Mwajuma, who were all invigilators assigned to the school.
In Katwe, Kampala, police apprehended Ivan Serugonza from Joy Primary School in Lubowa.
He, along with Flugyensiyo Bombo, who remains at large, are reported to be teachers at the same institution.
They were discovered in the students’ restrooms, posing as cleaners and attempting to provide answers to candidates who left the examination room, allegedly for bathroom breaks.
Serugonza later reportedly admitted to a scout that he was a math teacher.
Five other teachers were also arrested for possessing examination materials believed to be UNEB papers, in violation of Section 25 (i) of the UNEB Act, CAP 256. Among those detained was Ramathan Mugaga Male, 24, who had been serving as an invigilator at Kirinya Church of Uganda Primary School and resides in Banda Zone, Nakawa Division, Kampala.
A resident of Banda Zone in Nakawa Division, Kampala, he is part of a group that includes Ronald Tumuhimbise, a 40-year-old teacher living in Kabeko village, Ssembabule district, and teaching at Kisoro Primary School in Masaka City. Also included are Nelson Otai, 31, a teacher residing in Nabweru, Nansana Municipality, Wakiso district; Richard Katambe, 40, a teacher from Kisoso Zone, Kimanya, Masaka City; and Tom Kimanje, 30, who also lives in Kisoso Zone, Kimanya, Masaka City.
Kalule reported that the five were discovered with materials related to the UNEB PLE examination.
It is claimed that Kimanje shared this content with the Director of Kisoso Primary School, who remains unaccounted for.
Allegations suggest that the accused disseminated electronic versions of what were thought to be UNEB PLE exam papers, covering subjects such as mathematics, science, social studies, and English, via social media platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram.
In Kisoso Primary School, located in Kimanya, Masaka City, it was reported that related answers were read aloud to the candidates.
Kalule mentioned that the accused are set to appear before the magistrate’s court in Kiira on November 12, 2024.
Students investigated
Meanwhile, the police in Masaka are looking into an incident involving two UACE students from Masaka Hall, who were reportedly caught with smartphones during the afternoon examination on November 11, 2024.
The students in question are Cecilia and Grace Nakiyimba.
Reports indicate that one of them was utilizing artificial intelligence to download an essay, while the other had notes summarized on her phone.
Other teachers have already been charged and remanded in prison after admitting their guilt.
