As Uganda’s national examination period intensifies with A level exams in progress, a fake circular claiming errors in the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) physics exams has been circulating on WhatsApp, causing confusion among students and educators.
The message, which has been widely shared, alleges that “corrupt individuals” and “unavailable circumstances” led to mistakes in the Ordinary Level physics exams, requiring candidates to retake the paper.
However, UNEB officials have confirmed that this information is entirely false.
The purported memo, written in language uncharacteristic of official UNEB communications, uses informal terms such as “stated paper” instead of referring to specific examination sections.
It also lacks the clarity and professionalism typical of UNEB’s official announcements.
This type of hoax is not new and has become an annual occurrence, often emerging on social media platforms during examination periods, aimed at creating anxiety and uncertainty among students.
This misleading message follows a series of similar hoaxes targeting UNEB over the years, designed to manipulate students' emotions during the high-stress exam season.
The fake circular even includes a fabricated document code, “UNEB/DE/EM/TT/DOC 002,” to appear credible.
However, UNEB clarified that any official communication would be delivered directly to schools through secure channels and posted on their verified website and social media pages.
As UNEB wraps up this year’s examination cycle, officials are urging the public to remain cautious about unverified information on social media, highlighting the importance of relying on official announcements to avoid unnecessary panic.