This year, the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) will conduct Four sets of Examinations; the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE), the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) for both the Old and New Curricula, and the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE).

Dan Odongo, UNEB Executive Director said that this will be the first time UNEB is conducting the UCE examination based on the New Lower Secondary Curriculum (NLSC), and arrangements for this examination are on course.

“This is the last time UNEB is conducting the UCE Examination under the Old curriculum. Kindly encourage all those interested and qualify for this examination to please use this opportunity and register. It is a one-off opportunity and UNEB will not Conduct UCE Exams under the old curriculum next year,” Odongo said.

He added that only candidates who passed PLE (Grades 1, 2, 3, and 4) or its equivalent and have attended four years of Ordinary Level Education may be registered for this UCE Examination. The PLE Grades shall be verified automatically by the e-registration software for those who have sat the PLE within the periods specified the circular on registration sent to schools at the commencement of the registration exercise, or earlier. Candidates should provide their correct index number and year of sitting for PLE.

The New Lower Secondary Curriculum requires candidates to register for a minimum of eight (8) and a maximum of Nine (9) subjects. Continuous Assessment (CA) Scores for the subjects offered, as well as Project scores shall be a requirement for certification.

Odongo clarified that normal registration of candidates will close on May 31, 2024 and that candidates who will miss registering during this time, a period has been set for late registration, which attracts a surcharge.

“The government will pay the registration fees of all candidates under any of the three programs of the UPE, USE and Universal Post O-Level and Training. Heads of these Centres are advised to ensure that they submit the registration data of their candidates during the period of normal registration,” Odongo said. 

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Police in Elegu have arrested one Suubi Baliddawa, who set his black Toyota Wish car with registration number UBE 852E on fire.

Baliddawa reported that he set his car ablaze after becoming frustrated with the police for having held his car since early May after he was involved in an accident.

In a statement, the police noted that on May 7 at 9:18 am at Muvule along Gayaza Road opposite Riham Depot, Suubi Baliddawa, while driving his car from Mpererwe towards Kalelwe, knocked and injured a pedestrian identified as Naome Nakabaliki, 58 years old, who was crossing the road to check on her son who works in the building across.

After the crash, Baliddawa attempted to flee but was compelled by boda-boda riders to take the injured pedestrian to the hospital, which he agreed to do.

However, on the way to the hospital, he transferred the victim from his vehicle to a hired motorcycle and parked his vehicle elsewhere to avoid being recognized at the hospital.

It is reported that Baliddawa shared his contact with the victim’s son but allegedly gave a false number plate for his vehicle in an attempt to evade justice.

Later that day, the victim’s son went to Kanyanya Police Station to check if Baliddawa had reported the incident, which he had not. A case was registered by Edward Kamuhanda, the victim’s son.

“The traffic officer at the counter contacted Baliddawa, who claimed he was taking his sick child to Gulu for treatment. The officer instructed him to hand over the vehicle to the nearest police station, but he did not comply,” said the police.

They added, “On May 9, 2024, Suubi Baliddawa reported the crash at Elegu Police Station after the 24-hour mandatory period had passed. He was advised to return to Kanyanya Police Station to follow the proper investigation procedures, which he did not do.”

On May 17, at about 7:00 am, Suubi Baliddawa reported to Kanyanya Police Station following the guidance of the OC Traffic Elegu. Upon presenting himself before the OC Traffic Kanyanya, he initially denied any involvement in the crash but was subsequently detained.

The following day, while recording a statement, Baliddawa is said to have confessed to providing a false number plate and accepted liability for the crash.

On May 18, he was granted police bond and given a police form to produce his driving license, certificate of insurance, and registration book within five days for inspection. However, on May 21, 2024, a video surfaced on social media showing Baliddawa burning the vehicle.

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The government has repatriated Ugandan citizens who were trafficked in Myanmar. They are part of the 400 Ugandan nationals held hostage in Myanmar by rebel groups, and others were denied exiting Cairo, Egypt, and India over failure to pay immigration fines.

After receiving social media reports in December 2023 about Ugandans held in Myanmar, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja convened an inter-agency meeting on December 9, 2023 and discussed avenues of how to secure their release.

She confirmed that over 290 Ugandans are stranded in India, Egypt, and Myanmar after being trafficked out of the country, and there are fears that some of the victims have been recruited into rebel activities.

This was done through concerted efforts by various government agencies and international partners, demonstrating the Uganda Foreign Service’s commitment to protecting Ugandans abroad and combating human trafficking.

Speaking at Entebbe International Airport, the Permanent Secretary, Bagiire Vincent Waiswa, urged Ugandans to be cautious of fraudulent employment schemes. “The Ministry, working with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, continues to work on preventing human trafficking through regional and international cooperation,” he said.

On the sidelines of the 19^th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement held in Kampala in January 2024, John Mulimba, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs for Regional Cooperation, along with Ambassador Betty Bigombe, Ambassador of the Republic of Uganda to Thailand with residence in Kuala Lumpur, met with Myanmar’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, U Than Swe, and raised concerns about the safety, rescue, and return of the incarcerated Ugandan citizens.

The issue came to light in 2023 when reports surfaced of about 23 Ugandans being held in Tachileik, Myanmar, after being lured with promises of high-paying jobs. They were subsequently forced into crypto-currency scams and smuggled across borders. The Government of Uganda, in collaboration with the Uganda High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Office of the Prime Minister, initiated a series of diplomatic engagements with the Government of Myanmar, leading to an agreement to release the Ugandans.

PS Bagiire extended the gratitude of the people of Uganda to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) for providing crucial support, such as shelter and travel arrangements back to Uganda. He also graciously thanked the Government of Thailand, which generously waived all overstay visa fees and pardoned those rescued repatriates without work permits.

“Following their release, the victims were sheltered at the Thailand-Myanmar border, with assistance from the Thai government and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). Thai authorities confirmed the victims’ status as trafficking survivors, enabling the repatriation process to commence,” the Permanent Secretary highlighted.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs extends heartfelt thanks to the Government of Thailand, the IOM, and particularly President Museveni for their invaluable support. Special recognition goes to Amb. Dr. Betty Bigombe for her relentless efforts.” PS Bagiire further remarked.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirms its dedication to protecting Ugandan citizens abroad and addressing human trafficking with the seriousness it deserves. With collective effort and unwavering commitment, we can prevent and manage human trafficking, safeguarding our children, youth, and vulnerable populations. 

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Mbale High Court has sentenced witchdoctor Ibrahim Isiko to life imprisonment for murdering a five-year-old boy.

Isiko Ibrahim and his nephew were arrested in 2022 for murder, human sacrifice, facilitating human sacrifice, possession of instruments of human sacrifice, and aggravated trafficking in children.

Prosecution led by Aliwaali Kizito, a Chief State Attorney, said the two beheaded a five-year-old boy for human sacrifice rituals. They then buried the remaining body parts in a sugar cane plantation near the Namatata River in the Industrial Division of Mbale City.

The investigation was meticulously conducted by the Uganda Police Force with substantial support from Kyampisi Childcare Ministries, who are also caring for the survivor, a key witness in the case.

Appearing before Justice Namundi Godfrey on May 18, 2024, Ibrahim’s Isiko nephew and shrine assistant, Isiko Jamada, opted for a plea bargain. He was subsequently convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Following his conviction, Isiko Jamada chose to testify as a prosecution witness, providing crucial evidence that contributed to the conviction of Ibrahim Isiko. Upon conviction, the court sentenced Ibrahim Isiko to natural life imprisonment.

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The National Unity Platform (NUP) opposition party has denied allegations of attack on journalists during a burial event in Lwengo District, citing conflicting accounts and absence of evidence.

“We have taken note of various statements made by some people, alleging that on May 18, 2024 during a burial in Lwengo District, some journalists were hurt by part of our security. When these allegations came to our attention, our communications team led by our spokesperson reached to the journalists who made these claims, those whom they accused, as well as the other people who attended the event,” NUP stated. 

The party noted that the versions of what transpired are very different. The onlookers who we spoke to, as well as the accused persons all denied that such an attack took place. Adding, “We reached out and requested the affected persons, who claimed to have video evidence, to provide it. They haven’t provided it yet.”

However, the party believes that the accusations are politically motivated.

“We are very concerned that some of the journalists who have struggled to drive this narrative are actually political actors working for the detractors of our party at different levels. Some have always used their social media pages to attack and disparage our party and its leadership. In the absence of any evidence linking our teams to any wrongdoing, we have every reason to believe that the whole story is cooked and politically motivated,” NUP noted in a statement.

The party added that in fact some journalists confessed that the camera apparently paraded as having been vandalized was never at the scene. It was an old, faulty camera parade to support the wild claims.

“The National Unity Platform firmly believes in media freedoms and would be the last to condone any attack on the media. We are proud of the cordial, respectful relationship we have built with the media over time and this is something we shall guard with everything. If anyone has evidence that any of our team members conducted themselves wrongly, you are encouraged to send it to us and action will be taken swiftly,” NUP guided. 

The journalists in the Greater Masaka raised their complaint of attack by NUP security during the burial of the late Pascal Ssekasamba at Manga Village in Kiseka Subcounty in Lwengo District as the situation looked scary during the party Principal Robert Kyagunyi expressed his condolences. 

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