Out of the 73 schools flagged for cheating across the country, with their 2024 examination cancelled several belong to the Uganda Muslim Education Association (UMEA), the Church of Uganda, the Roman Catholic Church and other faith-based organizations.
The Uganda National Examinations Board
(UNEB) has released the official list of schools whose Primary Leaving
Examination (PLE) results have been cancelled due to malpractice. An analysis of
the list reveals a striking pattern, most of the implicated institutions are
religious-based schools spanning various denominations.
Out of the 73 schools flagged for
cheating across the country, with their 2024 examination cancelled several
belong to the Uganda Muslim Education Association (UMEA), the Church of Uganda, the Roman Catholic Church and other faith-based organizations.
For example, in Butambala District, all
five schools with cancelled results are faith-based institutions, including Bulo
Quran School, Nakatooke UMEA, Kakubo Muslim School, and St. Andrew’s Simba. The
trend continues in Mityana, where schools like Kalangalo RC (Roman Catholic)
and Kiggwa CU (Church of Uganda) were implicated.
Similar cases were reported in Mayuge,
where His Mercy Christian School and St. Kizito Primary School had their exams
nullified. The pattern is similar in other districts. The prevalence of
malpractice in faith-based schools raises concerns about integrity in religious
institutions and the broader education system.
Robert Mukisa, a Kampala resident,
expressed deep disappointment over the revelations, questioning the integrity
of faith-based schools. He noted that while these institutions are
traditionally expected to uphold high moral standards, their pursuit of
academic excellence appears to be overshadowing the core values they were
founded on.
“It’s
shocking that schools, which should be the very pillars of ethics and morality,
are instead fueling exam malpractice. These institutions are meant to instil
integrity in students, yet they are the ones leading in dishonesty,” said Mukisa.
Rev. Canon Dr Paul Kakooza,
Director of Education Services at the Provincial Secretariat of the Church of
Uganda, has distanced the institution from exam malpractice, reaffirming its
commitment to ethical education. He explained that while the government assigns
teachers and school administrators to their schools, the Church has little
influence over their training and conduct.
"In most cases, we simply receive personnel posted to us by the
government. We are not responsible for moulding them into who they become,"
Rev. Kakooza stated.
However, he assured that
when evidence of malpractice arises, the Church acts swiftly, enforcing its
strict zero-tolerance policy. He emphasized that exam cheating contradicts the
Church’s core values and educational philosophy.
//Cue in; “For in church...
Cue out...such people.”//
According to UNEB, malpractice was
widespread, affecting a total of 27 districts. This was confirmed following
thorough investigations that led to the withholding of examination results from
multiple schools across the country.
“Following
the completion of the 2024 PLE malpractice case, conducted from February 11 to March
4, 2025, the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB), in an exercise of its
power... cancelled results of candidate...” the notice to general public reads in
part.
In total, UNEB cancelled the
examinations of 3,513 learners. Kyenjojo District had the highest number of
affected schools, with exams from eight schools cancelled.
Mityana followed with
seven, while Bundibugyo had six. Butambala, Kygegwa, and Kagadi each had five
schools implicated in exam malpractice.
Meanwhile, concerns have been raised
over the omission of several schools from UNEB’s list of implicated
institutions, despite reports of malpractice during the examinations. For
instance, multiple schools where teachers were caught writing answers on
chalkboards some of whom were arrested and charged are notably absent from the
list. This has sparked questions about the criteria used to determine which
schools faced penalties.
By the time of publishing this report,
UNEB officials had not yet explained.
However, the board, with
the assistance of police, typically conducts investigations before taking
action. Suspected culprits including headteachers, teachers, learners, examination
officers, district education officers, and local government officials are
summoned before the UNEB security committee for a fair hearing.
Based on the
findings, the committee then decides whether to cancel the examinations or take
other disciplinary measures.
