Police and Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) monitors have arrested three individuals accused of compromising Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) papers at Prince Junior School in Gayaza, Wakiso District. The suspects include the school's director and acting head teacher, Hajjat Lazia Nasanga, a mathematics teacher identified as Mulindwa, and UNEB scout Margaret Nankabirwa. They were taken to Kasangati Police Station and are expected to be arraigned in court on charges of examination malpractice.
According to UNEB spokesperson Jennifer Kalule-Musamba, Nasanga allegedly colluded with Nankabirwa to open a sealed examination envelope and remove a paper, which was subsequently handed to the mathematics teacher to prepare a marking guide and answers intended to assist candidates. This action represents a serious breach of the diligence, integrity, and loyalty expected of every examination supervisor.
In a separate incident, another UNEB scout, identified as Kasango Bumaali, was arrested while on duty at Ndagaalo Primary School in Rubirizi District. Bumaali allegedly photographed an examination paper after it had been delivered to the centre and shared the images with others. He has since been detained as police initiate investigations ahead of possible court proceedings.
The arrests come as UNEB and police intensify their crackdown on examination malpractice during the ongoing PLE examinations. Musamba said some schools were increasingly resorting to collusion with scouts and invigilators to secure unauthorised assistance for candidates, despite stringent measures introduced to prevent examination paper leakages.
The emerging forms of examination malpractice include examination centres allegedly seeking external assistance through compromised scouts and invigilators, the unauthorised handling of examination materials, and the photographing and circulation of papers after their delivery to examination centres. Similar cases have been reported in districts including Masaka, Kaliro, and Kisoro, resulting in several arrests.
Examination malpractice is criminalised under the UNEB Act, Cap 259, with Section 26(1)(g) specifically prohibiting attempts to influence the conduct of examinations and providing for a penalty of up to five years' imprisonment, a fine of Sh20 million, or both. UNEB has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the credibility of national examinations, urging parents, teachers, and examination officials to uphold integrity.
As candidates prepared for the afternoon papers in Social Studies and Religious Education, UNEB called on examination officials to remain vigilant and adhere to established procedures. Investigations into the arrested suspects are ongoing as the remaining PLE papers continue under heightened supervision.
Key points
- Three individuals arrested over PLE anomalies at Prince Junior School in Gayaza.
- UNEB and police intensify crackdown on examination malpractice during ongoing PLE examinations.
- Examination malpractice is criminalised under the UNEB Act, Cap 259.
