Jennifer Kalule Musamba UNEB’s Principal Communications Officer speaking to Journalist at Naguru Police Headqaurters.
By George Bukenya
As Uganda Certificate of Education examinations enter the second week, Court in Tororo has sentenced one teacher for engaging in Examination malpractices after pleading guilty and remanded the other accomplice who denied all charges brought against him.
This follows arrest of the two suspects, Moses Ejagu and Denis Jjuuko by police having been alerted by the whistle blower and they were committed to Tororo Magistrate court.
The two culprits are teachers of St. Mary’s Junior School, Kapeeka in Nakaseke District. Moses Ejagu pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 3 years by the Chief Magistrate in Tororo, where he committed the offence while his co-accused Denis Jjuuko was remanded until 30th October, 2024.
Ejagu upon interrogation by police said that while applying for a job at the school, had lied that he was a UNEB examiner and it’s from the same background that he even formed 15 Whatsapp groups which he administered for purposes of sharing alleged UNEB examination papers including what he claimed to be the forth coming PLE examination papers.
Still in Mityana District, police arrested two suspects, from Bujjubi Secondary School, purportedly for being in possession of unauthorised examination materials.
The suspects were identified as Thomas Onyoto, 27years, a teacher of Hillside Kalongo Secondary School and Livingstone Kambugu, 31years, a biology teacher of Bujjubi S.S.
The duo were allegedly found by a UNEB scout with s copy of the chemistry examination paper, in the laboratory, where the preparations for the Chemistry Practical where ongoing just a few hours to the real time of candidates’ writing of that paper.
The UNEB’s mouth piece informed reporters that Thomas Onyoto was masquerading as a teacher of the said school. The two suspects were detained at Mannyi Police Station pending complete of investigation.
While addressing reporters at Naguru Police Headquarters on 21st October, 2024, Jennifer Kalule UNEB’s Principal Public Relations Officer said that although
Examination exercise generally went on smoothly last week despite the loss of Sulaina Nabirye a candidate from Bwera S.S, Kasese District died just after successfully writing her day one papers.
A post-mortem examination carried out by police according to Kalule revealed that the deceased died of Meningitis which severely affected her brain.
Meanwhile UNEB has banned media coverage of examination rooms for instance taking photographs or videos of any examination paper as such actions are illegal.
”We wish to inform and caution the media that no one is permitted to make any coverage or take photographs or videos of an examination paper or the candidates in an examination room while the examination is ongoing, “Kalule asserted.
She further said ” such actions are a threat to the security of the examinations and are taken as aiding and abetting malpractice, according to the UNEB Act
Section 36 of the Act asserts that any person who aids, abets, induces or incites another person to do or does an act in a manner that facilitates the commission of an offence commits an offence and is liable, on conviction, to the penalty prescribed under the respect Section in relation to that offence.
Although the deadline for submitting in the Continuous Assessment (CA) scores for the S.4 Candidates to UNEB in nearing, and it’s at 30th October, 2024, some Heads of UCE centres haven’t submitted in their candidates results.
The CA scores according the New Lower Secondary School Curriculum account for 20% of the overall achievement of the learner and Candidates without CA scores shall not be graded by the UNEB.