University Student Arrested Impersonating Candidate in UACE Exams

A 23-year-old university student has been arrested in Rukungiri District for impersonating a candidate during the ongoing Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) examinations.

The suspect, Cleophas Mbamanyire, a student at Kampala International University (KIU) Luwero Campus pursuing a Bachelor of Arts with Education, was reportedly sitting the exam on behalf of a female candidate, Brenda Akampurira. 

Mbamanyire, a resident of Ruhabo 2A Village, Rutunguru Parish, Ihunga Sub-county in Ntungamo District, was arrested on Thursday at around 11:00 a.m. while writing the General Paper at Bugangari Secondary School in Rukungiri District.

According to police, the area’s UNEB chief invigilator, Masiko Ambrose, became suspicious and questioned the candidate. On verification, it was confirmed that Mbamanyire was impersonating the registered candidate.

Elly Maate, the Kigezi Regional Police Spokesperson, confirmed the arrest and said the suspect is currently detained at Rukungiri Police Station as investigations continue.

The incident adds to a rising number of exam malpractice cases reported in the Kigezi region this academic year.

During the recent Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) in Kisoro District, two teachers, Bernard Katabire (41), an invigilator at Real Quality Primary School, and Samuel Baker Munyantwari (52), the headteacher of Seseme Primary School, were arrested for alleged involvement in examination malpractice.

The case unfolded during the Mathematics paper when George Kisakye, a UNEB scout, entered the Examination Room at Seseme Primary School, where Katabire was supervising and found him holding a photocopied answer sheet containing solutions to questions 31 and 32.

The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has repeatedly warned schools, teachers, and invigilators against malpractice, stressing that such acts compromise the integrity of national examinations and may lead to the cancellation of results for entire examination centres.