Police in Mubende District have arrested a 36-year-old man identified as Leonard Elungat for impersonating another candidate during the ongoing Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations.
According to the Wamala Region Police spokesperson, Racheal Kawala, Elungat was a former student of Mubende Army Secondary School who had been suspended in Senior Three last year. He was caught sitting for the Agriculture Paper One exam on Tuesday using another student’s index number.
Police investigations revealed that Elungat had been impersonating a candidate named Justus Atuhaire, who was officially registered at the same school but had not registered for Agriculture and was absent during the exam. It was later discovered that Elungat had already written seven different papers using Atuhaire’s index number before being detected.
The school’s headteacher reportedly found him in the exam room and handed him over to the deputy headteacher for questioning. However, Elungat managed to escape during the interrogation. He was later arrested in Mubende town on Wednesday, October 29, and is currently being held at Mubende Central Police Station.
Police confirmed that Elungat will be charged with impersonation and forgery once investigations are completed.
The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has continuously warned candidates and schools against exam malpractice, including impersonation. Under the UNEB Act of 2021, anyone found guilty of such offenses faces up to five years in prison or a fine.
Authorities have urged all students to avoid cheating and maintain honesty during examinations to safeguard their future and the integrity of Uganda’s education system.