As the final group of candidates for the 2025 UNEB examinations sit their remaining papers, the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has reiterated its strong warning to school heads, invigilators, and all examination officials to desist from any form of malpractice.
This reminder is anchored in this year’s examination theme: “Embracing security and holistic assessment of learners in a dynamic environment.” UNEB says adherence to this theme is crucial in safeguarding the integrity of the assessment process and protecting teachers from actions that may lead to criminal charges — as has already happened to several educators who violated legal and professional standards.
On Thursday, the Mengo Chief Magistrate’s Court remanded nine teachers accused of engaging in examination malpractice linked to the 2025 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE).
According to UNEB senior legal officer Annet Kemaali, the Court presided over by Chief Magistrate Adams Byarugaba heard that the suspects created WhatsApp groups on November 3rd and 4th, 2025, where they allegedly circulated unauthorised materials purported to be UNEB examination papers.
Kemaali stressed that their actions directly contravene Section 25 of the UNEB Act (CAP 259), which criminalizes the possession or sharing of unauthorised examination content — whether genuine or not.
“One of the suspects has been a teacher for 20 years, yet still chose to engage in malpractice. This should be a lesson to all educators: examination integrity is non-negotiable,” she told journalists.
Police arrested nine of the eleven suspects in Nateete, while two others remain on the run. Three suspects pleaded guilty and were remanded until 25 November 2025 for sentencing. The remaining six, who pleaded not guilty, were also remanded to the same date for the hearing of their bail applications.
Under Section 25 of the UNEB Act, anyone found guilty faces a fine of up to Shs 20 million, imprisonment for up to five years, or both.
This year’s PLE attracted over 800,000 candidates sitting from more than 16,000 UNEB centres across the country. Meanwhile, the UACE examinations, which are still ongoing, are expected to end on 5 December 2025.
UNEB has urged teachers and examination officials to uphold professionalism throughout the remaining days of the exam cycle to ensure fairness, credibility, and continued public confidence in the national assessment system.