Police Foil Bribery Attempt Targeting UNEB Scout in Lira as PLE Exams Begin

The Police in the North Kyoga Region, Lira City, have arrested three suspects for allegedly attempting to bribe a Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) Scout in a bid to influence the conduct of the forthcoming Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE).

The suspects have been identified as Odongo George, Director of Atura Community Day Primary School; Ekut Simon (32), a former teacher at the same school; and Awoko Lavoiser (26), a teacher at St. Gracious Primary School, Barapwo, in Lira City West Division.

According to the Police, the trio attempted to bribe a UNEB Scout from Lira who had been assigned to supervise the PLE in Oyam District. The suspects allegedly offered the scout a cash bribe of UGX 1,000,000 in exchange for assistance during the examinations scheduled to begin tomorrow.

Jennifer Kalule Musamba, Principal Public Relations Officer, UNEB, says that the police, acting on a tip-off, intercepted and arrested the suspects at Garden Hotel in Lira City, recovering the bribe money, which has since been exhibited as evidence.

Kalule says that investigations into the matter are ongoing, and the suspects will soon be arraigned in court. They are expected to face charges under Section 26(1)(g) of the UNEB Act, Cap 259, which provides for a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment, a fine of up to twenty million shillings, or both, upon conviction.

UNEB Executive Director Dan Odongo has since cautioned the public and all individuals involved in the administration and supervision of national examinations to desist from any acts that promote examination malpractice.

“UNEB is working closely with Police and other security agencies, who will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute anyone attempting to compromise the credibility of national examinations, regardless of their status,” Mr. Odongo warned.