The Bishop of Ruwenzori Diocese, Rt. Rev. Reuben Kisembo Amooti, has warned school administrators, Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb) officials, invigilators, and supervisors against engaging in any form of malpractice ahead of the Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) set for Monday and Tuesday.
Speaking to journalists at St. John’s Cathedral in Fort Portal, Bishop Kisembo expressed deep concern over the growing cases of examination fraud across the country, describing the trend as a major threat to the credibility of Uganda’s education system.
“Engaging pupils in cheating compromises their education and renders the purpose of examinations meaningless. It creates a negative precedent and ultimately harms the students’ future prospects,” Bishop Kisembo said.
He noted that several schools in the Ruwenzori region faced punitive action last year, including the withholding and cancellation of results by UNEB over malpractice.
He urged the Ministry of Education, district leaders, and other education stakeholders to step up vigilance and strictly enforce regulations during this year’s exams.
“Cheating at the primary level leads to poor performance in secondary schools. Exam malpractice is part of the broader corruption crisis in the country — it breeds fake professionals and undermines national development,” he added.
Kabarole District Chairperson Richard Rwabuhinga also appealed to parents to ensure their children are well prepared for the examination period by providing all necessary scholastic and weather-related materials such as umbrellas and raincoats.
“As head of the district, I strongly caution school directors and head teachers not to deny any candidate the chance to sit for their exams because of outstanding fees. Let us ensure integrity and fairness throughout the process,” Rwabuhinga said.
According to UNEB’s schedule, P7 candidates will sit for Mathematics and Social Studies on Monday, before concluding with Science and English on Tuesday.
This year, 4,012 candidates in Kabarole District are registered to sit for the exams, contributing to a national total of 817,998 candidates — a 2.51 percent increase compared to last year.