Assessment body Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb) has spoken out on the fate of Senior Four O-level candidates in Kassanda and Mubende who were gearing up for this year’s Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations yet their districts have been placed under lockdown over Ebola.
Uganda’s President Gen Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni on Saturday, October 15 declared a lockdown over the districts of Mubende and Kassanda as one way of reducing the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) to other districts.
The president’s directives were not clear on whether the candidates would be allowed to continue with their final end of level examinations.
You can read Museveni’s full address (speech) and the 24 lockdown directives he issued for Mubende and Kassanda districts Here.
UCE exams will begin tomorrow, October 17, 2022, following successful briefing of candidates in schools across the country on Friday, October 14.
According to figures from Uneb, a total of 349,445 candidates registered for this year’s UCE examinations.
Following Museveni’s address and declarations last night, Uneb consulted the officials who matters in the line ministries of health (led by Dr Jane Ruth Aceng), security (where Maj Gen Jim Muhwezi is minister) as well as education and sports (where first lady Janet Kataaha Kainembabazi is the minister).
Following the consultations, Uneb, through Jennifer Kalule Musamba, its principal public relations officer, has announced that the examinations will not be stopped in the districts of Mubende and Kassanda, but will rather gone on like in districts which are not under lockdown across the country.
“We wish to inform the public that National Examinations in Mubende and Kassanda districts will go on as originally planned, starting tomorrow, Monday October 17th, 2022,” announced Kalule.
“This follows consultations with both the Ministries of Health and Education, as well as the Security.”
Uneb also issued guidelines for invigilators and supervisors who will execute their duties in the two districts.
Kalule advised those who will man the examinations to travel to Mityana Police Station for further guidelines or reach out to their supervisors for further instructions.
The assessment body also guided on how the specific routes invigilators travelling from Mubende and Kassanda to Mityana Police Station should use.
“Contracted professionals involved in the conduct of examinations in the two districts are advised to move up to Mityana Police Station for further instructions or to contact their Area Supervisors for guidance,” noted Kalule.
“Those travelling should use transit vehicles through Mubende to Fortpotal or through Mubende to Kibaale.”
The Uneb spokesperson also guided the invigilators and their supervisors on what they should do to pass through security checkpoints.
“Anyone conducting UNEB examinations should identify themselves by presenting an introductory letter and a copy of their National IDs to the security any other relevant officials,” she advised.
The assessment body has also called on invigilators and all education stakeholders to follow the Standard Operating Procedures to keep themselves, learners and other members of school communities safer.
“The Board urges all those conducting examinations at different levels to follow the SOPS as guided by the Ministry of Health,” said Kalule.
“Remember integrity and security in the management of examinations, the health and safety of learners, is a joint responsibility. You are therefore urged to be vigilant and responsible.”
You can see the 2022 Uneb time tables for UCE, Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) Here.
The list of top best performing overall 300 O-level schools in Uganda in the previous Uneb examinations is Here while that of the best performing 400 O-level science schools is There.
