Police in Lira City have arrested three suspects accused of attempting to bribe a Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) scout in a bid to influence the conduct of the Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) which officially start today with Mathematics and Social Studies and Religious Education in the afternoon.
According to the Jennifer Kalule-Musamba, the Principal Public Relations Officer at UNEB, the suspects were identified as Odongo George, the Director of Atura Community Day Primary School; Ekut Simon, a 32-year-old former teacher at the same school; and Awoko Lavoiser, aged 26, a teacher at St. Gracious Primary School, Barapwo in Lira City West Division.
The trio allegedly attempted to bribe a UNEB scout who had been assigned to supervise the PLE in Oyam District. Police say the suspects offered the scout Uganda Shillings One Million (UGX 1,000,000) to turn a blind eye during the exams.
“The suspects were arrested at Garden Hotel in Lira City after we received a tip-off. The money was recovered and has been exhibited as evidence,” police said in a statement.
The suspects are being held as investigations continue and will be charged under Section 26 (1) (g) of the UNEB Act, CAP 259, which provides for a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a fine of twenty million shillings, or both upon conviction.
UNEB Executive Director Dan Odongo condemned the act, warning that anyone caught attempting to influence the credibility of the national examinations will face the full force of the law.
“We caution all those involved in the conduct of the PLE to desist from acts of aiding or abetting examination malpractice. UNEB is working closely with police and other security agencies, and we shall not hesitate to arrest and prosecute anyone compromising the integrity of national exams,” said Mr. Odongo.
He further emphasized that maintaining the credibility of Uganda’s education system is a collective responsibility, urging schools, teachers, and parents to support UNEB’s efforts to ensure fair and credible examinations.
Over 749,000 candidates are expected to sit for this year’s PLE across the country, beginning today with Mathematics in the morning session.
