UNEB probes examination malpractices, as PLE preparations enter final stage
Musamba announced the developments today (October 26), at the police headquarters in Naguru, Kampala, during the third joint press briefing on the security of the 2026 examinations, held under the theme, “Advancing Excellence in Assessment and Certification through Secure, Credible, Inclusive, and Innovative Processes.”
"A UNEB scout confiscated the material and reported the matter to police, but the candidate is said to have fled the examination room after the paper ended. Investigations are ongoing," Musamba said. (Credit: Mpalanyi Ssentongo)
KAMPALA - The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) is investigating cases of examination malpractice in Bududa, Kibaale and Kampala, alongside alleged misappropriation of registration fees in Mpigi, as preparations intensify for the Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) scheduled for November 3 and 4.
The cases emerged during the second week of the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations, which UNEB said ended successfully without major challenges.
In Mpigi district, the headteacher of Shepherd House High School, Ann Mugisha, was issued a police bond over allegations that she received sh300,000 from a candidate, Sumaya Nakato, allegedly for her registration but did not register her.
The candidate consequently missed the opportunity to sit for her UCE examinations this year, the UNEB principal public relations officer, Jennifer Kalule Musamba, revealed.
Musamba announced the developments today (October 26), at the police headquarters in Naguru, Kampala, during the third joint press briefing on the security of the 2026 examinations, held under the theme, “Advancing Excellence in Assessment and Certification through Secure, Credible, Inclusive, and Innovative Processes.”
According to Musamba, the school headteacher (Mugisha) had agreed to pay the fees for a remedial year for the affected student.
"A UNEB scout confiscated the material and reported the matter to police, but the candidate is said to have fled the examination room after the paper ended. Investigations are ongoing," Musamba said.
At Karuguuza Progressive Secondary School in Kibaale district, two candidates were found with handwritten smuggled materials during Agriculture Paper One, she said, adding that the materials were confiscated and the matter was reported to police.
"Another case was reported at Upland High School in Mutundwe, Kampala, where a candidate was found with smuggled material during the Physics practical examination. The matter was reported to police for investigation." Musamba revealed.
Musamba said candidates found with smuggled materials were allowed to continue writing their remaining papers as investigations proceeded.
Musamba said the UCE examinations would continue until November 3, when PLE candidates will also begin their papers.
This week’s UCE papers include Physics practical and Kiswahili, alongside elective subjects such as Ugandan Sign Language, Biology practical, Technology and Design, Agriculture practical, Art and Design, Physical Education, Entrepreneurship, and Nutrition and Food Technology.
UNEB also reported an incident involving a UCE candidate from Erimu College in Soroti, who delivered a baby boy at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital after sitting her Information and Communication Technology paper.
She said the board did not condone teenage pregnancy, but had a responsibility to support duly registered candidates to complete their examinations, rather than subject them to further disadvantage.
Meanwhile, Musamba said UNEB has registered 920,833 candidates for the 2026 PLE, comprising 484,620 girls (representing 52.7%) and 436,213 boys (representing 47.3%).
Of the registered candidates, 575,342 or 62.5%, are sponsored by the Government under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) programme, while 344,491 or 37.5%, are privately sponsored.
Musamba said final preparations were underway to ensure the smooth conduct of the PLE examinations, after the UNEB executive director, Dan Odongo, commissioned district monitors over the weekend to undertake engagements with stakeholders this week.
Headteachers are expected to brief candidates on Friday, October 30, on examination instructions and the timetable before they sit for the exams on November 3 and 4. UNEB urged parents to attend the sessions and cautioned headteachers against delegating the responsibility.
Schools have also been reminded that teaching must stop after the briefing to allow candidates to prepare for the exams.
UNEB emphasised the need for schools, parents and other stakeholders to uphold examination integrity and ensure candidates are adequately prepared.