UNEB labels Lira City an examination malpractice hotspot

21 October 2026, 9:15 am

By Winnie Auma

The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has reportedly identified Lira City as a hotspot for examination malpractice, prompting education authorities to tighten supervision ahead of the 2026 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE).

Patrick Olwit, the national chairperson of Inspectors of Schools in Uganda, said some school authorities allegedly influence examination markers to inflate learners’ marks, while some invigilators are reportedly paid to write answers for candidates.

Speaking on 20 October 2026 during a PLE preparatory meeting at Lira Primary School in Lira City West Division, Olwit, who also serves as the Lira District Inspector of Schools, warned school leaders against engaging in examination malpractice and urged them to protect the integrity of national examinations.

Lira City Education Officer Jane Obeny has cautioned parents against giving money to school authorities to facilitate examination malpractice.

Obeny expressed concern that some parents contribute to cheating by paying school authorities to help their children obtain exceptionally high marks rather than allowing them to pass on merit.

She said several measures had been introduced to prevent malpractice, including requiring school proprietors to stay away from examination centres and leaving the responsibility for managing the centres to headteachers.

Obeny added that all candidates would be required to take their meals at examination centres, while mobile phones, vehicles and unauthorised persons would not be allowed in examination rooms or on school premises.

Meanwhile, Musa Opio, the Secretary for Education, who represented the Lira City Mayor at the meeting, expressed concern that some schools continued to engage in examination malpractice despite substantial government investment in the education sector.

Opio directed that schools found guilty of examination malpractice, resulting in their candidates being required to resit examinations, should not charge the affected learners any fees for the resits.

The 2026 Primary Leaving Examinations will begin with a briefing on 30 October, while the examinations are scheduled for 3 and 4 November.