The Uganda National Examination Board (UNEB) in conjunction with police, are probing a school, its director and an invigilator over allegations of collusion to cheat exams.
According to Jenifer Kalule, the UNEB Principal Spokesperson, a laboratory technician, the Head teacher and 34 students of Verona College in Kamuli district are suspected to have colluded to cheat exams.
This follows action by a UNEB scout who found the candidates of the second shift of the Chemistry practical paper on the second day, in a discussion of a suspected examination material while waiting for their turn to write the examination.
Kalule says that the suspects have all recorded statements at police and investigations are under way.
She noted that the candidates have been allowed to write their examinations as scheduled.
For practical papers where a school may not have enough laboratory space to accommodate all the candidates in one shift, UNEB allows schools to sit the candidates in shifts.
However, while in waiting, candidates are not permitted to hold any discussions.
Meanwhile, Kalule also revealed that there was a suspected case of impersonation in Kawempe, Kampala where the teacher involved in the suspected case in one of the schools is still on the run.
She added that the teacher is believed to have aided the process of getting the impersonating male candidate from his school to write examinations for the female candidate in a neighbouring school.
The Head teacher of the school where the malpractice occurred is still under police custody along with the guardian of the female candidate.
“Investigations into this case are nearly concluded, and the adult suspects are set to appear before court on Friday, October 21, 2022. The students will be released on police bond to enable them continue writing their examinations as scheduled. Their next paper is on Friday,” she said.
Another case of impersonation was registered in Kagadi during the Fine Art paper of Still Life/Nature on Day 3.
She said the impersonator has been arrested as investigations continue.
Invigilators and scouts walk
On updates from Kassanda and Mubende Districts, she said examinations were conducted safely in all the centres.
Kalule noted that candidates were able to get to the Examination Centres in time.
However, she said there is still a challenge with the movements of the examination officials i.e. invigilators and scouts whom Boda Boda riders don’t want to carry for fear of being arrested on their return journeys.
The invigilators who have private means of transport like motor cycles are, however, given permits to move.
According to the Mubende Area Supervisor, Mr. Ngirabakunzi John, a number of invigilators and scouts had to walk to and from their work stations on day 3 as boda cyclists refused to carry them.
She noted that Day 3 of the examinations was conducted safely in most parts of the country without any major occurrences.