Kampala- Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations commenced with a sense of normalcy on monday morning in stark contrast to the last two cycles plagued by the disruptive effects of COVID-19 restrictions and the Ebola outbreak.
Jennifer Kalule, the spokesperson for the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB), has confirmed that the examination papers were delivered on time to both the main and sub-stations. According to her, the distributor used 25 different routes for the operation and carried it out diligently over the last two days.
In the bustling storage centers of Kampala, mostly situated within police stations, the examination papers and other related materials were dispatched on Sunday evening and reached their designated centers around 8:00 p.m.
Despite initial concerns of morning rain disrupting the examination, the weather cleared before 7:00 a.m ensuring a smooth start to the testing process. Scouts and other officials were prepared at the storage areas by 6:30 a.m. and a crucial briefing meeting took place at 7:30 a.m.
However, by guidelines, the containers were not opened until 8:30 a.m. The chief scout at Nabweru police station commented on the early arrival of their team, stating, “We came early today; the first day is always complicated. We held a briefing for scouts to foster familiarity and to address any potential issues promptly.”
Meanwhile, As the UCE examinations get underway, the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has once again issued a stern warning to both schools and candidates, cautioning them against any involvement in malpractice.
Kalule noted that they emphasize that engaging in any form of misconduct could result in the cancellation of their examination results and potentially expose them to criminal charges.
“Once again we caution the public/ candidates against involvement in any form of examination malpractice. Anyone found culpable will be tried according to the UNEB Act 2021. Some of the offences in the ACT related to malpractice are covered under section 25-32 of the ACT,” noted Kalule while addressing a joint press briefing with police in Kampala on Monday.
The candidates began their examinations with Geography Paper One in the morning, a compulsory subject that all registered candidates are required to write. In the afternoon, they will sit for Geography Paper Two.
A total of 364,421 candidates have embarked on their Uganda Certificate of Education examinations in 3, 863 centers across the country.
UNEB is working with different security agencies as well as contracted professionals at different levels to supervise the exams. These include 1,1036 Security officers, 1, 113 scouts and 107, 941 invigilators.
