Kampala, March 12, 2026 – Members of Parliament have criticised the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) for withholding Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) results over malpractice while failing to take action against school administrators and invigilators accused of orchestrating the cheating.
During a tense plenary sitting, lawmakers argued that the current approach punishes innocent pupils while those responsible escape accountability.
Kazo County MP Dan Kimosho questioned UNEB’s handling of malpractice cases, saying the burden of enforcement appears to fall unfairly on candidates.
“Every time UNEB releases results, some schools’ results are withheld. Yet it is UNEB’s mandate to protect the integrity of examinations,” Kimosho said.
“When malpractice happens, the school owners, inspectors and invigilators are neither arrested nor charged.”
He warned that the consequences for affected pupils are severe, with many left without clear follow-up.
“Some drop out of school, others are married off early, and no one takes responsibility,” he added.
Cheating ‘organised’ in schools
Kalungu West MP Joseph Sewungu reinforced the concerns, alleging that exam malpractice has become organised in some schools.
“Children collect money from parents, sometimes over Shs20 million, to bribe invigilators and supervisors. Parents are aware,” Sewungu said.
The concerns echo earlier remarks by UNEB Executive Director Dan Odongo, who warned that malpractice is becoming more brazen.
“Scouts and invigilators are being bribed or threatened with physical harm by school directors and headteachers to allow teachers to assist candidates,” Odongo said during the release of the 2025 PLE results.
Calls for accountability
Under the law, UNEB has powers to withhold results and penalise offenders, including imposing fines or imprisonment for examination malpractice. However, MPs said enforcement appears skewed, with little action taken against those organising the fraud.
Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among urged caution but acknowledged possible gaps in the system.
“We cannot discuss this matter fully here. Let us have a closed-door meeting and see how this can be resolved,” she said.
State Minister for Primary Education Joyce Moriku Kaducu supported the proposal and pledged government action.
“We will meet together with UNEB and other stakeholders to discuss the matter and later report back to the House,” Kaducu said.
Impact on pupils
The 2025 PLE was sat by more than 817,000 candidates across the country, but results for hundreds were withheld in several districts, including Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono.
While some results were later released after hearings, others were cancelled, forcing affected pupils to retake the exams.
Education experts warn that withholding results can have lasting consequences, including delayed transition to secondary school, psychological distress and increased risk of dropout, particularly among learners in Universal Primary Education (UPE) schools.
Reform debate
The controversy has reignited debate over Uganda’s examination system, with some MPs calling for reforms to strengthen supervision and ensure accountability for school administrators and invigilators.
Lawmakers insist that while protecting exam integrity is critical, children should not bear the consequences of malpractice orchestrated by adults.
