UCE Exam – Examination Malpractice Suspects Arrested.By the end of the third day of the conduct of the examinations for the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE), police and Security Agencies had arrested a number of suspects involved in cases of examination malpractice.
In Nagalama, the police arrested the Headteacher of Paul Mukasa S.S. in Kalagi for electronic sharing of information, purported to be a UNEB Examination paper. The Head teacher was said to be sharing the material from his phone, and extorting money from unsuspecting members of the public. He will be arraigned in court to answer to charges of aiding and abetting malpractice.
Relatedly, police in Bushenyi have arrested the Head teacher of Kanyabwanga Secondary School for sharing information/ an image purported to be an examination material for a UNEB Biology Practical paper for 2023. The content is said to have been shared on a social media platform for Headteachers. The file has been sanctioned at the magistrate’s court in Bushenyi, and the suspect was due to appear in court today.
Elsewhere, in Kwania District, the head teacher of Inomo SS has been arrested by police for allegedly tampering with examination material/envelope containing mathematics Paper 1 examination papers. It is said that he received a sealed envelope from the station, in the presence of other examination officials that included the UNEB Chief scout, Area Supervisor, as well as security Officers. It is suspected that the content of the envelop could have been tampered with. Police is investigating the case.
Section 28 of the UNEB Act 2021 makes it an offence to damage/ destruct an examination paper, examination material, or any other material or information. According to the Act, a person involved in such an act commits an offence and is liable, on conviction to a fine not exceeding one thousand currency points (Twenty Million Shillings) or a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years or both.
In Kampala, the police in Kabalagala, Makindye Division, have arrested the Chief Invigilator at African Parl Secondary School on suspicion of providing external assistance to the second shift of Chemistry students. This was during the practical examination of Chemistry Paper 3, of Tuesday October 17th, 2023. A handwritten piece of paper with suspected answers of the practical paper was found in the examination room where the Chief Invigilator was supervising. Investigations are ongoing.
Overall, the UCE examination has so far been conducted smoothly in most parts of the country. Candidates are set to write Biology (Practical) in the morning, and Commerce in the afternoon of Day 4.
