Kamwenge Obtains Additional PLE Examination Centers as Exams Approach

By Ivan Mugisha

As the Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) draw near, education authorities in Kamwenge District have secured 10 additional examination centres to alleviate overcrowding and assist candidates from schools without centres in avoiding long journeys.

Previously, the district had only 66 examination centres.

The newly established centres include Mukukuru, Kinoni, Kigarama, Mother Mary, Nkoma COU, Rubona K, Kimuli, Kidongo, St. Anthony Special Needs Mirambi, and St Peter’s Mukole primary schools.

Kamwenge District Inspector of Schools, Edson Nuwagaba, disclosed that some Primary Seven candidates from various schools, particularly those from Mukukuru Primary School, had to walk nearly 2km to Kabuye Primary School, spending over an hour on their way to sit for their PLE examinations, which he described as burdensome.

“Candidates have been trekking long distances, close to 2 kilometres, to other schools with examination centres due to a lack of centres at their own schools,” he stated.

“With the addition of these 10 centres, we are optimistic that they will relieve candidates from the burden of walking long distances and create more space for them at various centres,” Nuwagaba added.

He further revealed that the education department will continue advocating for more centres for schools that have their UNEB centre numbers and are entitled to them.

“We want to keep lobbying for more centres for schools that already have their UNEB centre numbers and deserve to be awarded," Nuwagaba said.

"For instance, some schools still sit PLE from distant centres but have not been considered this year due to the limited seating slots we received from UNEB. Nevertheless, we are grateful for the relief we have obtained."

Additionally, he disclosed that training for head teachers and chairpersons of school management committees has been organised to familiarise them with the 2021 UNEB Act, which outlines key regulations for using the centres.

“A training session for head teachers and school management committee chairpersons has been organised to guide them through the 2021 UNEB Act and the regulations to comply with when using these newly established centres,” Nuwagaba affirmed.

According to this year’s PLE timetable, Primary Seven candidates will begin their examinations on November 4, 2024.

To obtain a UNEB centre, any school must be a registered institution with the Ministry of Education and Sports.

Government-aided schools require official written permission, while private schools must possess a certificate of registration.