Three arrested at Prince Junior School Gayaza over PLE anomalies

Wakiso, Uganda | URN | Police and Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) monitors have arrested three people accused of compromising Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) papers at Prince Junior School in Gayaza, Wakiso District.

The suspects are the school’s director and acting head teacher, Hajjat Lazia Nasanga; a mathematics teacher identified as Mulindwa; and UNEB scout Margaret Nankabirwa, who had reportedly been deployed from Kayunga District to supervise examinations in Gayaza.

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.

“Her actions represent a serious breach of the diligence, integrity and loyalty expected of every examination supervisor. We expect the highest standards from those entrusted with protecting the examination process,” she added.

The three suspects were taken to Kasangati Police Station and are expected to be arraigned in court on charges of examination malpractice.

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.

“Despite the robust security measures put in place to prevent pre-examination leakage, some schools have resorted to compromising scouts and invigilators to provide external assistance to candidates during the sitting,” she said.

“This kind of collusion directly threatens the credibility of the Primary Leaving Examinations and will not be tolerated.”

The arrests point to emerging forms of examination malpractice, with some 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.

In recent years, similar cases involving teachers preparing answers for candidates, impersonation and attempted bribery have been reported in districts including Masaka, Kaliro and Kisoro, resulting in several arrests.

Examination malpractice is criminalised under the UNEB Act, Cap 259. Section 26(1)(g) specifically prohibits attempts to influence the conduct of examinations and provides for a penalty of up to five years’ imprisonment, a fine of Sh20 million, or both.

Other provisions of the Act prohibit the unauthorised possession, opening or disclosure of examination materials, as well as aiding or abetting examination malpractice.

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.

“We urge all supervisors, invigilators and stakeholders to be at their stations in good time and to remain fully alert so that we can prevent any form of malpractice,” Kalule-Musamba said. The examination body reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the credibility of national examinations, urging parents, teachers and examination officials to uphold integrity and ensure that candidates’ results reflect their genuine efforts.

Investigations into the arrested suspects are ongoing as the remaining PLE papers continue under heightened supervision.