Masaka, Uganda – A major exam malpractice scandal has unfolded, with two UACE students and five teachers in Masaka and Kiira Division respectively implicated in cheating during national examinations, sparking outrage and renewed calls for tougher exam security.
Yesterday afternoon, Nabahinda Cecilia and Nakiyimba Grace, students from Masaka Hall, were caught using smartphones during their Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) exam.
According to UNEB spokesperson Jennifer Kalule, Cecilia was found using artificial intelligence to generate an essay for her exam, while Grace had pre-saved summarized notes on her phone.
The incident, which violated UNEB’s strict no-device policy, highlights a disturbing trend of high-tech cheating and questions the effectiveness of current exam monitoring systems.
Simultaneously, in Kiira Division, five teachers were arrested for leaking Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) papers.
Among those detained were invigilator Mugaga Ramathan Male and teachers Tumuhimbise Ronald, Otai Nelson, Katamba Richard, and Kimanje Tom.
Police investigations revealed that these teachers had shared UNEB exam papers for subjects such as math, science, SST, and English on social media platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram.
Worse, the teachers allegedly helped students cheat by reading out answers during the exam at Kisoso Primary School in Masaka City, severely undermining the fairness of the exam process.
These alarming cases bring to light the increasing vulnerability of Uganda’s examination system to digital malpractice, threatening the integrity of qualifications that determine the future of countless students and pupils.
As a result, UNEB has vowed to intensify its efforts to secure exams, including stricter monitoring of digital devices in exam rooms and heightened vigilance among invigilators.
The board has stressed the importance of maintaining fairness and transparency, warning that any further breaches will be met with swift consequences.
The individuals implicated in these incidents will appear before the Kiira Magistrate’s Court on November 22, 2024.
As these investigations unfold, education authorities and the public are demanding urgent reforms to strengthen exam security and prevent future malpractice, as the credibility of Uganda’s educational assessments hangs in the balance.
