At least thirty suspects, including a district inspector of schools, were arraigned before Mengo Chief Magistrate’s court on charges related to malpractice during the recently concluded 2025 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE).
The group comprises one district inspector of schools, a school proprietor from Kassanda district, five head teachers, and twenty-three teachers from various schools across Kampala, Wakiso, Kassanda, Mubende, Mukono, Masaka, Luweero, and Mityana districts.
Prosecution alleges that some of the suspects cut open Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb) examination materials delivered to examination centres, took photographs of the papers, and shared the content online.
Others were reportedly caught writing answers for candidates on classroom chalkboards. A video shared by Uneb officials shows one of the suspects being taken back to Nkoba Primary School in Kassanda district, where the malpractice was allegedly committed, as investigators interrogate him.
In the video, the suspect is heard saying that the school director offered him Shs 600,000 to photograph and share the science paper before the exam began.
“He told me on the first day, but I didn’t share…I feared…on the second day I was convinced,” he narrates in the footage as he demonstrates how he cut open the sealed examination packet.
He points to the school director standing beside him during the interrogation at what appears to be the scene of the crime. Eight of the suspects, including the district inspector of schools, have been remanded until November 26, when they are expected to reappear for mention.
On November 13, nine other suspects appeared before the same court. Three of them pleaded guilty to charges of examination malpractice and will return on November 26 for sentencing.
The six who denied the charges are expected to return on the same date for bail applications. Under Section 36 of the UNEB Act, any person who aids, abets, induces, or incites another person to commit an examination offence commits an offence themselves. Upon conviction, many examination-related offences attract a penalty of five years’ imprisonment, a fine of Shs 20 million, or both.
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