The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has held a high-level engagement with school inspectors from across the country in a renewed effort to combat examination malpractice ahead of the 2025 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE).
During the meeting, the Minister of State for Primary Education, Joyce Moriku Kaducu, emphasized the crucial role of inspectors in preserving the integrity of Uganda’s education system. She warned that unless examinations reflect true learner performance, the value of education would be undermined.
“Our goal is to produce children who can thrive in life. But this can only happen if our examination system remains credible,” Kaducu said. “Inspectors must ensure that certificates awarded are based on merit, not dishonesty.”
UNEB Executive Director Dan Odongo described malpractice as one of the most serious threats to the country’s education system, often perpetrated with the help of teachers and invigilators seeking personal gain.
He cited a troubling rise in the falsification of special needs claims by schools seeking to obtain undue exam advantages. In some cases, schools have reportedly claimed that dozens of pupils have learning or visual impairments to secure extra time during exams. Upon verification, UNEB teams have found these claims to be false.
Odongo also highlighted incidents where sign language interpreters, whose role is to support communication for deaf candidates, have crossed the line by guiding learners on how to answer questions—an act that directly undermines fairness in assessment.
Mike Nangosya Madikye, UNEB’s Director of Examinations, emphasized the need for collaboration among stakeholders.
He noted that UNEB alone cannot eliminate malpractice and called on inspectors, teachers, parents, and the wider community to play an active role in preserving the integrity of exams.
Ayebazibwe Kellen, an inspector of schools from Mbarara, echoed the call for improved systems and urged fellow inspectors to embrace digital tools in their oversight roles. She said that digitization not only increases efficiency but also helps reduce opportunities for cheating and misuse of exam materials.
UNEB officials also acknowledged the potential for technology to be misused. While systems such as the newly introduced Assessment Management Information System (AMIS) are expected to enhance transparency and streamline exam administration, there are growing concerns that technology could also be exploited to facilitate more sophisticated forms of cheating if not properly monitored.
The 2025 PLE will be guided by the theme “Embracing Security and Holistic Assessment of Learners in a Dynamic Environment.” To support this, UNEB has rolled out AMIS to digitize services, improve efficiency, and strengthen exam security.
As part of its ongoing reforms, UNEB has taken several measures to close existing loopholes. These include banning the use of boda bodas to transport examination papers, printing personalized timetables for every candidate to increase traceability, and imposing stricter penalties on individuals and schools found guilty of malpractice. Sanctions range from disqualification of candidates to cancellation of results.
Odongo concluded the meeting by reiterating UNEB’s commitment to upholding the credibility of Uganda’s education system.
He said the board will continue strengthening its systems, embracing innovation, and empowering school inspectors across the country to ensure that all examination results are earned honestly and reflect genuine learner performance.
As Uganda prepares for the 2025 national exams, UNEB stressed that the fight against examination malpractice remains a top priority—one that will define the quality, fairness, and future of the country’s education system.