Matthew Bukenya – Uneb’s Former Executive Secretary – is Dead

Assessment body Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb) has announced the death of its former executive secretary Matthew Bukenya.

Bukenya was the longest serving Uneb executive secretary having taken over from David Ongom in April 1995. Ongom had been forced out of Uneb after immense examination leakages for Primary Leaving Examinations and end of O-level papers.

Bukenya would come in to fix things: plug the holes through which the leakages had happened and restore confidence in Uneb as a credible assessment body whose certificates would be respected in the country and abroad.

Although his official appointment letter as Uneb executive secretary came at the start of 2003, Bukenya had led Uneb as acting executive secretary since 1995 – a period of seven years. He was executive secretary of Uneb from 2003 to 2016 when the Uneb board chose Dan Odong to replace him.

A former accountant at Uneb, Bukenya had retired after turning 60 years old but he was recalled from retirement to fix things at the assessment body. Now, eight years since he left Uneb, he has passed on.

He was aged 89. He is said to have breathed his last at about 1am in the morning of July 22, 2024, at Rubaga Hospital in Kampala where he had been admitted.

Uneb has paid tribute to its former boss. “His guidance and mentorship meant the world to most of us in UNEB. We will always cherish the lessons he imparted and the support he provided,” said Uneb in a statement. “His leadership was exemplary, guiding and inspiring. His legacy will continue to shine bright in our hearts and minds. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”