The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has announced that it is ready to start hearing cases of examination malpractice recorded in the 2023 examinations.

This was confirmed by the UNEB Chairperson, Professor Celestino Obua, while speaking during the release of the 2023 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) results, held at the State Lodge, Nakasero, in Kampala on Thursday, February 14, 2024.

Prof. Obua noted that the board will kick-start the exercise to hear the cases on February 19, 2024, beginning with Primary Leavening Examinations (PLE) cases. Without divulging detail, he noted that several cases of examination malpractice were recorded during the 2023 PLE.

According to Prof. Obua, additional investigations were conducted by the board into the malpractices, adding that schools that are cleared shall have their results released immediately.

Professor Obua, the new Board Chairperson, acknowledged that although stringent measures and penalties have been implemented through new laws to curb examination malpractice, there are still existing gaps that require attention.

According to Dan Odongo, the UNEB Executive Director, most cases of 2023 UCE malpractice were recorded in physics and chemistry practical papers. He said the board noted that there was overwhelming external assistance for candidates, and the affected schools would be notified on the day of the hearing.

At the end of 2023, a total of 15 cases of examination malpractice were recorded during the PLE.

The suspects were later released on police bond as investigations continued, while others were arraigned in court and the culprits remanded to prison, including the director of Kisugu High School in Makindye, Celestine Kasolo, the director of His Grace Primary School in Kananya in Kawempe division, and scouts and invigilators, among others.