Six Arrested Over Exam Malpractice Ahead of UCE

Kampala, Uganda | THE BLACK EXAMINER | Six individuals, including teachers and headteachers from various schools, have been remanded in Luzira prison by the Buganda Road Court. They stand accused of involvement in alleged examination malpractice. The names of the schools involved have been kept confidential to protect the ongoing investigation. These six suspects appeared in court before Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi and were charged with unauthorized possession of examination materials under Section 25 of the UNEB Act, 2021.

The court heard that the accused, along with others who remain at large, were found in possession of information related to the 2023 Primary Leaving Examination question papers for English, Science, SST, and Mathematics. The alleged crimes took place in Kampala and its surrounding areas during September and October 2023. The group is said to have operated through a WhatsApp group where they invited members of the public and school headteachers to purchase the Primary Leaving Examination question papers for this year’s Primary Seven candidates.

Under the new UNEB Act, anyone attempting to gain possession of examination materials or aiding candidates in obtaining unlawful possession of examination materials can face significant fines or imprisonment. In addition to UNEB Act violations, individuals engaged in the use of social media to facilitate examination malpractice could potentially be held accountable under the Computer Misuse Act of 2011.

The accused individuals have denied the charges, and investigations are ongoing. They were unable to provide sureties for bail, and those who could lacked introductory letters from their Local Councils confirming their residence. As a result, the Magistrate remanded the accused individuals until October 30, 2023.

Examination malpractice has been a persistent issue in Uganda, with weak legal frameworks contributing to the problem. The new UNEB Act has provided a mechanism to detect and track suspected malpractice, leading to arrests and prosecutions. Social media has played a prominent role in malpractice, with groups sharing leaked materials before and during exams.

This year, 1,224,371 candidates are registered to take final examinations at various education levels, including the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE), Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE), and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE). The national examinations are scheduled to take place from October 13 to December 1, 2023.

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