Six individuals, including headteachers, were remanded to Luzira prison by the Buganda Road Court on Thursday for alleged examination malpractice in Kasanda and Kikuube districts. Among those remanded were Daniel Oleja, Ijalla Michael, and Nasser Sekandi, all teachers from Wakiso-based schools. They were charged under Section 25 of the UNEB Act, 2021, for unauthorized possession of examination materials. The accused were found in possession of information related to the 2023 Primary Leaving Examination question papers for English, Science, SST, and Mathematics.
The alleged crimes occurred between September and October 2023 in Kampala and its surrounding areas. The accused operated a WhatsApp group where they invited members of the public and school headteachers to purchase Primary Leaving Examination question papers for this year’s Primary Seven candidates.
According to the UNEB Act, individuals found guilty of attempting to gain possession of examination materials can face fines or imprisonment. Additionally, the Computer Misuse Act of 2011 may hold those using social media to facilitate exam malpractice accountable.
The accused have denied the charges. Investigations are ongoing, and a mention date was requested. The Magistrate informed the suspects of their right to apply for bail but, due to a lack of sureties and introductory letters from their Local Councils, they were remanded until October 30, 2023.
Exam malpractice has become a growing issue in Uganda’s education system, with weak legal frameworks contributing to the problem. The introduction of the new UNEB Act aims to address this issue and lead to the prosecution of those involved in malpractice.
Social media has become a tool for malpractice, with groups sharing exam materials. Last year, teachers from Masaka were found leaking Primary Leaving Examination scripts via social media. Some groups were caught attempting to open sealed PLE parcels to share images with their students.
In addition to leaks, fake exam papers have circulated on social media platforms in previous years, affecting schools and candidates. A total of 1,224,371 candidates are registered for this year’s national examinations, with exams scheduled from October 13 to December 1, 2023.
