Six people, including five teachers and a student, have been remanded to Luzira Prison after being accused of unlawfully possessing Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) papers and other examination related materials.
The six appeared before City Hall Court in Kampala on Thursday, where Senior Principal Grade One Magistrate Nicholas Aisu charged them under Section 25(1) of the Uganda National Examinations Board Act, 2021.
Those charged are Dickson Tugeineyo, 35, a teacher from Lusanja along Gayaza Road in Kitetika Parish, Kasangati, Wakiso District; Deogracious Opio, 36, a teacher from Masajja in Makindye Division, Kampala; Ismail Madete, 18, a student from Naburiyiriri Cell, Nkoma Ward, Mbale City Northern Division; William George Olwa, 31, a teacher from Lubugumu Cell, Makindye-Ssabagabo, Wakiso District; Bruno Lyazi, 34, a teacher from Mabombe Village, Mende Parish, Busiro Sub-county, Wakiso District; and Nathan Ssebulonde, 28, also known as Jungle, a teacher from Lugazi Village, Lugazi Ward, Katosi Town Council in Mukono District.
Prosecution alleges that between September and October 2026, the accused, together with other people who have not yet been arrested, unlawfully possessed or had control of examination papers, materials or information purportedly containing details about the contents of PLE papers in Mathematics, Social Studies, Integrated Science and English.
The prosecution told court that the examination materials and information were the exclusive property of the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB).
Tugeineyo and Ssebulonde admitted the charge when it was read to them, while Opio, Madete, Olwa and Lyazi denied the allegations.
Through their lawyer, Amos Kuuku, the accused asked court to order the prosecution to disclose the evidence it intends to rely on. Kuuku also told court that he had instructions from his clients to apply for bail.
However, State Attorney Mercy Yamangusho informed court that investigations into the matter were still ongoing and asked for additional time to enable the prosecution complete its inquiries.
Magistrate Aisu subsequently remanded all six accused persons to Luzira Prison until October 19, 2026. They are expected to return to court on that date for mention of the case, presentation of the brief facts and consideration of their bail application.
If convicted, the accused face a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a fine of up to Shs20 million, or both.
The case comes at a time when Uganda’s national examinations are getting underway. Senior Four candidates are scheduled to receive briefing on their Uganda Certificate of Education examinations today, with the first written papers due on Monday.
Primary Seven candidates are expected to begin the PLE process with briefing on October 30, 2026, before sitting their examinations.
The alleged possession of PLE examination materials has consequently renewed scrutiny over the security and handling of national examination papers as UNEB prepares to conduct the primary school examinations.
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