Examination malpractice continues to taint Uganda’s education system, resurfacing once more on the first day of the 2025 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE).
Despite heightened security and years of efforts to curb the vice, several cases of alleged cheating were recorded across the country as more than 800,000 pupils began their final primary exams.
According to the Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb), at least seven major cases involving bribery, impersonation, and smuggling of unauthorised materials were confirmed on the first day. Uneb said several suspects, including teachers, invigilators, and school directors were arrested in operations conducted jointly with the police.
“Following the tight security measures the board has put in place to curb malpractice, especially leakage leading to prior knowledge of examinations, a number of schools seem to have resorted to compromising scouts and invigilators to assist candidates during the examination, otherwise known as external assistance,” Uneb said in a statement.
The board added that some suspects were arrested while others are still on the run. In Kampala, four people were arrested at Hillside Junior School, Kisugu, after photocopied Social Studies answers were found inside an examination room.
Candidates from Kisugu Islamic School, who were also sitting at the centre, reportedly confessed to receiving help during the morning Mathematics paper. The arrested suspects included a scout, the chief invigilator, and two invigilators.
Four candidates recorded statements with the police. In Kaliro district, Uneb detained seven people, including the head teacher of Budini Boys primary school, after pupils admitted to receiving assistance during the Mathematics paper.
A similar incident occurred in Bundibugyo district, where Uneb operatives uncovered a scheme at Busalu primary school. Teachers posing as cooks and cleaners had hidden answer sheets inside sanitary pads in the toilets.
The suspects fled when security officers intervened. In Lira district, the director of Caren Junior School was arrested for allegedly attempting to bribe invigilators and scouts to permit external assistance for candidates.
In Kumi district, the chief invigilator of Kumi primary school was detained for photocopying Mathematics and Social Studies papers and sharing them with teachers.
Bribery remains widespread in Uganda’s examination system due to the sharp contrast between official pay and illegal rewards. Uneb pays invigilators a mere Shs 40,000, yet some schools offer millions to facilitate cheating.
The lure of quick money, coupled with low pay, pressure for good grades, and weak supervision, continues to drive the vice. Schools view strong results as key to reputation and enrollment, while poor performance attracts stigma and political pressure.
Education experts have renewed calls to replace the national PLE with a continuous assessment system, arguing that the current high-stakes exams create unnecessary pressure on learners and teachers, fueling malpractice.
The ministry of Education has yet to commit to this reform. Meanwhile, in Kabale, police arrested Rwababa primary school head teacher Drake Kishaijja for blocking a registered pupil from sitting the Mathematics paper over unpaid coaching fees.
In Kisoro, an invigilator identified as Benard Katabire was caught at Seseme primary school with photocopied answer sheets in the examination room. Uneb spokesperson Jennifer Kalule said the board is working with police to preserve the integrity of the exams.
“Security has been tightened to prevent leaks and any form of assistance to candidates. Those found guilty will face prosecution,” she said.
She added that, aside from these incidents, examinations proceeded smoothly across most parts of the country. Morning rains in some districts caused minor delays, but all candidates eventually sat for their papers.
Candidates are expected to continue with Integrated Science and English on day two of the national examinations.
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