UCE EXAMS KICKS OFF, UNEB WARNS SCHOOL HEADS AND PARENTS

UNEB Executive Director Daniel N. Odongo right, addressing journalist at Uganda Media Centre

As Uganda Certificate of Education Examinations (UCE) kicks off Today13, October 2023 with briefing of students, the Executive Director Daniel N. Odongo warns head of schools not to pull out students after they have entered the examination rooms because during time of exams, such rooms belong to UNEB.

Writing of real papers commences on Monday 16, October and candidates will do Geography paper 1 and paper 2 on the same day.

While addressing reporters at Uganda Media Centre on Friday13, 2023, Odongo said that some Head Teachers and school directors have a tendency of entering examination rooms with the intention of pulling out students who have not cleared school due something that will not be tolerated by UNEB.

“ We warn Head Teachers and Directors of schools not to be tempted to enter the examination rooms with a purpose of pulling out students who have not cleared school dues and requirements because once exams start the premises cease to be in control of their hands least I will order police to arrest.’’ Odongo said.

He adds; “ Parents and school heads should sit together and negotiate on the appropriate method of payment either in instalments or any other method of collection of fees instead of pulling out candidates after they have entered the examination rooms.’’  

Odongo also warned parents of the fraudulent acts that have started were fraudsters are using even online communication channels to convince teachers and parents that they have a copy of the step exams and they should pay and get it.

He cited out a scenario that occurred in Kawempe yesterday were 9 fraudsters were arrest trying to lure the school head of a certain school which he didn’t mention that they have a blue print of PLE exams. These were arrest after the whistle blower alerted police and 7 of these were committed to court which sent them on remand to Luzira prison.

Those who were arrested and prostituted were identified as Daniel Oleja 23, Micheal Ijalla, 25, Tendo Lukyamuzi 22, Henry Mirembe,31,  Nasser Sekandi 31, and Emmanuel Okechi 23 and are all teachers. These when convicted will have each to pay fine of Ug shs 10 million.

“ The public should not be deceived, not every boy at UNEB has access to exams, it only very few people who handles them and when they are still with UNEB, they are very safe.’’ The Executive Director warned.

According to the 2021 UNEB Act, any person caught and convicted on examination malpractice, faces punishment of 10 years imprisonment or paying a fine not exceeding 20,000 currency note or both but on the other hand if a student is caught cheating just one paper, all his or her exams will be cancelled.

Meanwhile Police have announced that at least 1,000 officers will be deployed starting today 13, October to different examination centres and stores and these include, CID’s Crime intelligence ,general duties and field forces.

Police spokes person SCP Fred Enanga right addressing reporters at Uganda Media Centre

The police spokesperson, Fred Enanga who also addressed journalist in the same press conference, said they are to deploy both uniformed and non-uniformed officers to ensure the examinations are carried on well without any hindrances a“Police has a mandate to police the UNEB examinations and to this, our teams of Criminal Investigations, Crime Intelligence, Field Force Unit, general duties among others are prepared. We are deploying slightly above 1,000 police officers and members of the sister security agencies,” Enanga said.

“As Police, we have  the mandate of policing the UNEB examinations and to this, our teams of Criminal Investigations, Crime Intelligence, Field Force Unit, general duties and others are very well prepared. We are deploying slightly above 1,000 police officers and members of the sister security agencies.” Enanga stressed.

He adds, “our teams will be involved in the protection, transportation, storage and delivery of UNEB exams and materials in coordination with the UNEB team.”

Enanga also said that police officers will be doing routine patrolling and monitoring of examination centres and their surrounding areas so as to counter any form of potential breaches of security and other disruptive behaviour like noise pollution, school invasion and any acts of trespass throughout the examination period.

By George Bukenya

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