The Uganda National Examination Board (UNEB) has reported that two special needs candidates died and 10 examination officials were arrested over various forms of malpractice during the first week of the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations.
The deceased candidates were both suffering from sickle cell, a genetic blood disorder that causes severe pain and complications. They were identified as Edwin Wamutale from St Noah Mawaggali SS in Jinja and Celine Anne Namuwase, who was a student at St Andrew Kaggwa Ggombe High School in Kawaala, Kampala.
UNEB spokesperson Jennifer Kalule said that the board also registered cases where teachers and invigilators allegedly engaged in assisting candidates, sharing digital materials and damaging examination envelopes.
“Last week was successful but we had a few cases of malpractice involving assistance, digital sharing of materials and two head teachers were involved in damaging the examination envelopes,” Kalule said at a press briefing on Monday.
She said that the board had collaborated with the police to arrest and charge the suspects involved in the malpractice. She named six teachers and an invigilator at Napita Secondary school in Yumbe District who were found with smartphones, a laptop and power banks containing answers for the Biology practical paper.
“Police continue to follow up on this case,” she said, adding that two other suspects had been arraigned in court and remanded in prisons.
Kalule also revealed that one candidate delivered a baby on October 19, but resumed with the examinations the following day after delivery.
She urged candidates, schools, parents and examination supervisors to stay away from all forms of examination malpractices which may lead to criminal charges and cancellations of results as prescribed in the UNEB Act 2021.
The UCE examinations started on October 16 and will end on November 10. About 350,000 candidates are sitting for the exams across the country. The exams are being conducted under strict health guidelines due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
