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According to police, the trio allegedly offered a UNEB scout, who had been deployed to supervise the examinations in Oyam District, a bribe of UGX 1 million to influence the conduct of the exams
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Police in the North Kyoga region have arrested three people for allegedly attempting to bribe a Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) scout ahead of the start of the Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE).
The suspects are George Odongo, Director of Atura Community Day Primary School; Simon Ekut (32), a former teacher at the same school; and Lavoiser Awoko (26), a teacher at St. Gracious Primary School in Barapwo, Lira City West Division. According to police, the trio allegedly offered a UNEB scout, who had been deployed to supervise the examinations in Oyam District, a bribe of UGX 1 million to influence the conduct of the exams. Acting on a tip-off, police arrested the suspects at Garden Hotel in Lira City and recovered the money, which has since been exhibited as evidence. "The act was intended to compromise the integrity of the national examinations that start tomorrow," police said in a statement, adding that investigations are ongoing and the suspects will be charged under Section 26(1)(g) of the UNEB Act, Cap 259, which provides for a penalty of up to five years in jail, a fine of twenty million shillings, or both.
UNEB Executive Director Mr. Dan Odongo condemned the act, warning all those involved in supervising and conducting the exams against any form of malpractice.
“We urge all individuals involved in this year's PLE to maintain the highest standards of honesty and integrity. UNEB, together with security agencies, will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute anyone attempting to compromise the credibility of the examinations, regardless of their status,” said Odongo.
UNEB’s Principal Public Relations Officer Jennifer Kalule Musamba also cautioned the public against any attempts to influence examination processes.
“This incident is a clear reminder that UNEB is working closely with police and intelligence agencies to ensure a credible examination process. Anyone caught engaging in malpractice, whether by offering or receiving bribes, will face the full force of the law,” said Kalule.
“We appeal to headteachers, invigilators, scouts, and candidates to uphold integrity and ensure that Uganda’s examinations remain free of malpractice.”
Meanwhile, in Bushenyi District, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner Kasigazi Williams Donanto has warned headteachers against preventing pupils from sitting for their examinations over unpaid school fees. Kasigazi emphasized that no headteacher has the right to stop a pupil from sitting for an examination they have prepared for over the past seven years.
Speaking to journalists in Bushenyi Town today, Kasigazi said security teams will be on the ground to ensure the smooth conduct of the examinations, warning that anyone found interfering with candidates will be arrested and prosecuted.
This year, a total of 817,930 candidates registered to sit for the 2025 Primary Leaving Examinations across 14,442 examination centres in Uganda, starting tomorrow.
Torch Media Africa
