UNEB Raises Concern Over Delays in Exam Malpractice Cases, Calls for Stricter Distribution Measures

The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has expressed concern over the slow pace of judicial proceedings related to exam malpractice, which they believe undermines the implementation of newly revised laws designed to address this issue in schools.

Dan Odongo, UNEB’s Executive Director, highlighted the need for prompt resolution of malpractice cases, noting that many incidents from the 2022 and 2023 national exams remain unresolved.

Speaking at a seminar aimed at preparing school inspectors from districts, municipalities, and cities for the upcoming national exams in October, Odongo emphasized that examination malpractice continues to disrupt the education system. UNEB introduced new laws with stricter penalties, including large fines and long prison sentences for offenders, with the hope that these measures would help reduce malpractice, especially if culprits were swiftly brought to justice.

However, despite initial optimism, the law has not been as effective as anticipated. For instance, 21 malpractice cases from last year’s exams were filed in court, but most remain unresolved.

Odongo revealed that UNEB is working with the judiciary to accelerate the handling of malpractice cases in hopes of making a greater impact. Over the years, UNEB has repeatedly raised concerns about delayed court processes and has even suggested the creation of a special court to deal exclusively with exam malpractice cases. Last year, UNEB Chairperson Prof. Celestino Obua advocated for such a court, stating it would expedite case resolution and reduce the human and financial resources needed to manage these issues.

Frances Atima, a UNEB board member and Director of Education Standards at the Ministry of Education, acknowledged the challenges in speeding up case resolutions but noted the board has made progress by closing gaps in exam security. She identified the main issues as occurring during the distribution of exams from storage centers to schools and within the schools themselves. “The best way to tackle this problem is through prevention,” Atima said, emphasizing the need for people of integrity to oversee the distribution and invigilation processes.

Odongo confirmed that many of the exam leaks reported last year happened during distribution. He explained that some individuals tasked with handling exam papers, particularly for the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE), had tampered with packages, photographed the papers, and leaked them to schools.

In 2022, Namasuba Parents Primary School headteacher Mbayo Mamba was arrested in Butambala District for attempting to illegally open a sealed PLE parcel. He was caught conspiring with an exam distributor and a driver transporting the papers. Last year, several headteachers and teachers in districts such as Kasanda and Kikuube were also arrested for sharing the PLE via social media.

To prevent further leaks, Odongo announced that going forward, only senior local government officials, like department heads, will be authorized to handle exam distribution. He explained that these officials are more accountable compared to junior staff or external individuals, such as boda boda riders, who were previously involved.