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The Uganda National Examinations Board has deployed 13,000 scouts and 600 security personnel to ensure smooth conduct of the upcoming Primary Leaving Examinations starting November 6, 2024.

The Uganda National Examination Board (UNEB) says it has deployed a total of 13,000 scouts ahead of the commencement of the Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE).

An additional 600 security personnel including those under cover, will also be deployed to oversee the safe conduct of examinations throughout the country, according to UNEB.

“The public is cautioned against dealing with fraudsters who are out there trying to trick unsuspecting members of the public. Members of the public are specifically cautioned against unauthorized possession of any material, content, or information purported to be a UNEB examination paper,” UNEB spokesperson Jennifer Kalule Musamba, said on Monday, November 4, 2024, during the joint weekly security briefing at the Uganda Police Force headquarters, Naguru in Kampala.

According to Kalule, acts of exam fraud include sharing and having electronic versions of such exam material.

She said such an act is an offence under sections 24 and 25 of the UNEB Act, CAP 259.

“Anyone involved commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding 1,000 currency points (20 million shillings), or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 5 years, or both,” she said.

She urged anyone with useful information concerning suspected malpractice cases to call the entity’s toll-free lines 0800211077/ 0800111427.

“Such a person shall be protected by our whistle-blower’s policy and shall be compensated once the information provided is found useful, ” she said.

Candidates’ numbers

According to Kalule, a total of 524,690 candidates under Universal Primary Education (UPE) are set to write the exam, of whom 249,498 are male and 275,282 are female.

Non-UPE will account for 274,081, giving a total of 379,414 candidates.

She noted that the exams commence on Monday with briefing, with actual examination writing kicking off on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, with mathematics in the morning and Social Studies in the afternoon.

On Thursday, November 7, 2024, the candidates will write integrated science in the morning and English language in the afternoon.

Special needs candidates

Kalule said a total of 3,295 candidates sitting the exams are special needs education (SHE) candidates.

“A total of 1,677 (50.0%) are females, while 1,618 (49.1%) are males. These will be given an extra 45 minutes in accordance with the UNEB regulations,” she said, adding that these will also receive the necessary support based on their special needs.

She added that Braille answer sheets have been availed for the blind, large print question papers for those with low vision, while the deaf are assigned sign language interpreters.

She said those with dyslexia/reading and writing problems will be availed transcribers.

Briefing of candidates

The Board called upon all heads of centres to make the briefing of candidates a priority.

“Candidates should be informed to carefully follow the instructions. Headteachers should also explain to the candidates the circumstances that lead to malpractice, disqualification of a candidate or cancellation of results,” she said.

Kalule added that these instructions and guidelines are spelt out in the timetable.

She also encouraged parents and guardians to attend the briefing sessions for moral support and further guidance to the learners.

“Candidates and parents should note that on the day of the examinations, candidates should arrive at the examination hall by 8:30am for the morning papers, and 1:30pm for the afternoon papers. Any candidate who arrives 15 minutes after the start of the examination will not be allowed to sit the examination,” she said.