UACE 2024: Masaka Students Caught Using Smart Phones, AI to Copy Answers

Assessment body Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb) says it has caught Masaka students using smart phones and AI to download answers in the UACE 2024 exams that kicked off on Monday, November 11, 2024.

Uneb spokesperson Jennifer Kalule-Musamba says two female students were writing their UACE 2024 papers at the Masaka Hall.

Identified as Cecilia Nabahinda and Grace Nakiyimba, the two candidates were in possession of smart phones. Kalule-Musamba added that two of the students was using an artificial intelligence (AI) tool to cheat a UACE 2024 examination paper.

“Police in Masaka are investigating a case involving two UACE students registered with Masaka Hall. The two female candidates include Nabahinda Cecilia and Nakiyimba Grace,” said the Uneb publicist.

“They were found with smart phones in the examination room during the afternoon paper. One was using artificial intelligence to download an essay, while another had summarised notes on the phone.”

One of the candidates was allegedly using artificial intelligence to download a history essay, while another had summarized notes on the smart phone. – Uneb

Away from the two UACE 2024 candidates found with phones in the examination room, Kiira Division Police has arrested five teachers over examination malpractice as Uneb continues to live up to the theme of this year’s national exams: embracing security and holistic assessment of learners in a dynamic environment.

The five teachers were apprehended for unauthorised possession of examination materials or information purported to be Uneb examination papers, contrary to section 25 (i) of the UNEB Act, CAP 259.

According to Kalule-Musamba, the first accused is Ramathan Mugaga, a male aged 24, who had been deployed as an Invigilator at Kirinya CoU Primary school.

Mugaga is a resident of Banda Zone, Nakawa Division in Kampala. The 2^nd accused  person is Ronald Tumuhimbise, a 40 year old teacher and resident of Kabeko village, Sembabule District, and a teacher of Kisoso Primary School in Masaka City. The 3^rd accused is Nelson Otai, aged 31, a teacher and resident of Nabweru Zone, in Nansana Municipality in Wakiso District.

The 4^th accused person is Richard Katamba, aged 40, a teacher and resident of Kisoso zone, Kimanya, Masaka City. The 5^th accused is Tom Kimanje, aged 30, a teacher and resident of Kisoso zone, Kimanya, Masaka City. “These were all found with content related to the UNEB PLE examination. Kimanje is said to have shared with his school Director of Kisoso Primary school, who is still at large,” Uneb’s spokesperson noted.

“It is alleged that the accused shared the electronic content of what was believed to be UNEB PLE Papers, including maths, science, SST and English on social media platforms of WhatsApp and Telegram. It is also said that they read out the related answers to the candidates of Kisoro Primary School in Kimanya, Masaka City.”

The accused were expected to appear in the magistrate’s court in Kiira, on Tuesday November 12. This is not the first group of teachers to get in trouble over fake Uneb papers.

Read about related Uneb fake papers arrests Here and There.

The full time table for UACE 2024 is Here.

See the best performing UACE (A-level) schools in last year’s sitting Here, There and Over There.

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