Three Arrested Over Exam Bribery as PLE Kicks Off in Uganda

 

Three Arrested Over Exam Bribery as PLE Kicks Off in Uganda

Police in Lira City

Lira, Uganda — Police in Lira City have arrested three individuals, including a school director, over allegations of attempting to bribe a Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) scout as the 2025 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) officially began across the country.

The suspects — identified as George Odongo, the director of Atura Community Day Primary School; Simon Ekut, a former teacher at the same school; and Lavoiser Awoko, a teacher from another institution — were apprehended after allegedly offering a UGX 1 million bribe to a UNEB scout in exchange for facilitating examination malpractice.

According to the police, the suspects approached the UNEB official at Garden Hotel in Lira City with the cash, packed in denominations of UGX 50,000. The scout immediately reported the incident to authorities, leading to their arrest.

Lira City Police Commander confirmed that the trio are in custody and will be arraigned in court once investigations are complete. “We are handling this case seriously to protect the integrity of the national examinations,” the commander said.

UNEB officials condemned the act, emphasizing the board’s zero-tolerance policy on malpractice and bribery. “The integrity of the PLE must be safeguarded at all costs. We will continue to monitor and work closely with security agencies to ensure the examinations are conducted smoothly and fairly,” a UNEB spokesperson stated.

The Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) marks a crucial stage for more than 800,000 candidates nationwide, determining their transition to secondary education. As the exams began, UNEB reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining transparency and fairness throughout the process.

Education analysts warn that the involvement of school administrators and teachers in bribery attempts undermines the credibility of Uganda’s education system and sends a dangerous message to learners.

Authorities have urged the public and education stakeholders to remain vigilant and report any cases of malpractice. “We must all take responsibility to ensure that our children’s future is not compromised by corruption,” the UNEB official added.

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Editor’s Note:
The Uganda National Examinations Board has set up hotlines for reporting examination malpractice. Those found guilty of compromising the exam process face arrest, prosecution, and possible revocation of UNEB centre numbers.