Authorities in Kumi District have arrested the Chief Invigilator of Kumi Primary School for allegedly photocopying national examination papers in a suspected breach of examination integrity during the ongoing Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE).
The suspect, whose name has not yet been disclosed by police, is accused of unlawfully reproducing both the Mathematics and Social Studies (SST) papers and circulating them among other teachers before or during the examination period.
The act, officials say, could amount to a serious case of examination malpractice under Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) regulations.
The arrest was confirmed by Jennifer Kalule-Musamba, the Principal Public Relations Officer of UNEB, who noted that the suspect is currently in police custody as investigations continue.
“We have received information that a Chief Invigilator in Kumi was involved in photocopying PLE papers. He has been apprehended, and investigations are underway to establish the extent of the malpractice and identify others who may have been involved,” Kalule-Musamba said.
She emphasized that UNEB takes issues of examination integrity very seriously and will not hesitate to take stern action against individuals who compromise the credibility of the national assessment process.
“UNEB has systems in place to detect and follow up on any irregularities. Those found culpable will face criminal charges and may also be banned from future involvement in examinations,” she added.
Sources within Kumi District Education Department revealed that the suspect may have used a nearby stationery shop to reproduce the examination papers before sharing them with colleagues in what authorities describe as a “well-calculated” attempt to cheat.
The discovery came after some suspicious copies were recovered by UNEB scouts deployed in the area.
Police have since launched a broader investigation to establish whether any candidates or other schools benefited from the leaked papers.
The incident has raised concerns about examination security, especially in rural areas where invigilators and supervisors often operate with limited oversight.
UNEB officials have repeatedly warned teachers, invigilators, and school administrators against engaging in malpractice, reminding them that such acts not only destroy their careers but also undermine the hard work of honest learners.
This year’s PLE, which began on Monday, has seen heightened surveillance by UNEB and security agencies to curb examination leaks and impersonation cases across the country.
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