A senior four candidate has given birth during the ongoing Uganda Certificate of Education exams.
UNEB Principal spokesperson, Jennifer Kalule Musamba told journalists that the incident happened on October, 13, a day after the UCE exams kicked off nationwide.
“The candidate from Light Secondary School, Soroti delivered a baby boy during the course of the English paper in the morning. She was quickly attended to by the school health team and was able to complete her paper,” Kalule said.
“She subsequently sat for all the other papers of the week. Both mother and baby are said to be in good health condition.”
The UNEB spokesperson however said while the exams body doesn’t condone teenage pregnancy, they cant stop a registered candidate from sitting for her final exams.
“ It is our duty to ensure that all duly registered candidates presented to us at the time of the examination sit their papers, as long as they are able to.”
Kalule said the first week of this year UCE exams saw four people purporting to be Parish Internal Security Officers(PISOs) and District Internal Security Officers( DISOs) being investigated after being found to be collecting information from Queen of Martyrs School under Kiira Police Storage Station.
She said the circumstances under which they were collecting this information are being investigated.
In another incident, a candidate at Old Kampala Senior Secondary School was allegedly found with a mobile phone and was reported to have photographed the mathematics examination paper.
“The case was reported to police, and investigations are going on. The candidate continues to write their examination papers as guided by the rules and regulations, and the UNEB Act Cap 259.”
The UNEB spokesperson said in Lira, two people , including the Lira City Inspector of Schools were arrested in connection with alleged extortion of money from primary school head teachers who had allegedly declared privately registered candidates as UPE candidates.
She said , the accused, Mr. Tom Ronald Omara, the Lira City Inspector of Schools, and Ambrose Okot, also known as William Musinguzi, appeared before the Magistrate's Court at KCCA .
They denied the charges and have since been remanded Luzira government prison.
The UNEB spokesperson also reported the arrest of the Head teacher of Kazo Central Secondary School, Ms. Sumaiyah Nakkazi by Lugoba Police Station in Kawempe Division in Kampala for allegedly preventing three candidates from sitting the English examination paper over outstanding school fees balances.
She however warned candidates against indiscipline.
“A number of candidates will be completing their major papers this week. We however urge them to remain calm and follow school rules and regulations. Candidates are hereby cautioned that acts of indiscipline can lead to disqualification, cancellation of results or arrest of a candidate. Parents who have access to their children are advised to caution them accordingly. UNEB does not condone indiscipline in any way.”
This year’s UCE exams continue this week.