At least eight people, including a secondary school head teacher, have been arrested or are facing investigations over alleged examination malpractice and related offences during the ongoing 2026 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations.
According to Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) spokesperson Jennifer Kalule Musamba, the head teacher of Kazo Central Secondary School, Sumaiyah Nakkazi, was arrested by police at Lugoba Police Station in Kawempe for allegedly preventing three candidates from sitting the English examination paper over outstanding school fees.
Kalule also reported an incident at Abongomola Seed Secondary School, where 16 candidates allegedly accessed Biology specimens and apparatus in the practical examination room before the examination commenced on October 15.
“A teacher of the same school was also reported to have accessed the examination room with a mobile phone. The case was reported to police, and the candidates were allowed to write their examination papers,” Kalule said.
In a separate incident, police at Old Kampala are investigating a student of Old Kampala Secondary School who was allegedly found with a mobile phone during the Mathematics examination.
“He is also said to have taken photographs of the paper. The candidate was allowed to continue with the examination as investigations continue,” Kalule said.
In Lira City, two suspects, including the City Inspector of Schools, were arrested over alleged extortion of money from primary school head teachers.
The suspects allegedly solicited money from head teachers who had reportedly declared privately registered candidates as Universal Primary Education (UPE) candidates.
Kalule identified the suspects as Tom Ronald Omara, the Lira City Inspector of Schools, and Ambrose Okot, also known as William Musinguzi.
She said the two appeared before a magistrate’s court on Friday, October 16, and denied the charges against them.
It is further alleged that Okot falsely presented himself as the head of UNEB’s legal team.
The allegations remain subject to the ongoing legal process.
In another incident, four people suspected of impersonating Parish Internal Security Officers (PISOs) and District Internal Security Officers (DISOs) were reportedly found collecting information from Queen of Martyrs School.
The matter was reported to the security team for follow-up, according to Kalule.
The incident was reported under Kiira Police Storage Station, although further details about the suspects and the nature of the information they were collecting were not immediately available.
As candidates approach the completion of their major examination papers, UNEB has urged them to remain calm and adhere to examination rules and school regulations.
“A number of candidates will be completing their major papers this week. We, however, urge them to remain calm and follow school rules and regulations,” Kalule said.
She warned that examination-related misconduct could have serious consequences for candidates.
“Candidates are hereby cautioned that acts of indiscipline can lead to disqualification, cancellation of results or arrest of a candidate,” she said.
Kalule also called on parents who have access to their children to caution them against engaging in examination malpractice or other forms of indiscipline.
“UNEB does not condone indiscipline in any way,” she emphasised.
The board continues to urge candidates, teachers and school administrators to observe examination regulations to protect the integrity and credibility of the national examinations.
