UNEB withdraws centre numbers ahead of UCE exams, cancels previous results

As O’level candidates prepare for exams beginning Monday, UNEB has withdrawn centre numbers and cancelled some previous results, in the process affecting 1067 former candidates.

The saddening news of the cancellation arrived at after a lengthy investigation by the UNEB security committee, was delivered yesterday by UNEB Secretary Dan Odongo, in the company of acting General Secretary for Secondary Schools James Turyatemba and UNEB Principal Public Relations Officer Hamis Kaheru.

According to Mr Odongo, the affected students were complicit in possessing forbidden materials in an examination room and copying, aided by teachers. He however, added that they were given a fair hearing by the committee.

On his part Turyatemba urged religious leaders to sensitise students against engaging in exam malpractices, giving an example of Emeritus Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala, who he said, had done a lot in cautioning against the vice.

Meanwhile, four of the schools that have been gearing up for the UCE exams, have had the centre numbers withdrawn. The schools; Budinse Memorial School in Bulo, Wakiso Muslim SS in Kakiri, Kazo Hill College of Kawempe and Lake Albert SDA of Kagadi, had been cleared by UNEB and also issued with exam materials like answer booklets.

However, their officials were reportedly shocked to receive the information from journalists that their centre numbers had been withdrawn by the authorities, just less than a week to the UCE exams.

According to the officials, the candidates are being punished for malpractices of either the school authorities or the candidates in the previous UCE exams.

“The communication came in less than a week to exams; it becomes a bit hard for these students to register elsewhere for their exams and the school authorities have no immediate solution on this matter,” one of the school officials said.

But According Mr. Turyatemba said if UNEB fails to find emergency alternative examination centres, the affected students might sit for their exams next year.

He also called for the amendment of the UNEB Act, to pave the way for the stringent punishment of exam offenders including the closure of the schools found culpable.