education 30 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Vocational Heads Warn of Lax Oversight Fueling Exam Cheating
Heads of tertiary institutions in Northern Uganda are urging the Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board (UVTAB) to implement stringent vetting for examination supervisors, citing concerns that weak oversight is promoting widespread malpractice and leading to unqualified graduates. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/lax-oversight-fuelling-exam-malpractice-vocational-heads-warn-5614606
Institutional leaders in Northern Uganda have expressed grave concerns over the integrity of vocational examinations, attributing the rise in malpractice to inadequate supervision and a lack of thorough vetting for examination invigilators. During a recent UVTAB stakeholders’ workshop at Uganda Technical College (UTC) Lira, principals and registrars highlighted how lenient oversight allows cheating to flourish.
UTC Lira Principal Jacob Akunobere revealed that internal investigations have uncovered significant flaws in how local examination coordinators select supervisors. He alleged that some supervisors are bribed by students, who pool money to pay for assistance during exams. Mr. Akunobere recounted an incident where an unauthorized individual was found in an exam room with papers and fled when questioned, suggesting a “conspiracy” facilitated by area coordinators.
To combat this, Mr. Akunobere proposed that UVTAB should deploy mature, well-vetted personnel instead of inexperienced university graduates who may view invigilation solely as a source of quick income. He also suggested barring students with less than 75 percent class attendance from final exams, arguing that unprepared students are more likely to resort to cheating.
Chris Alele, Academic Registrar at UTC Lira, emphasized the severe consequences of such malpractice, stating that unqualified engineers could pose public safety risks, likening poorly executed foundational work in engineering to a building that could collapse.
Beyond supervision issues, stakeholders also called for the decentralization of UVTAB’s disciplinary hearings. David Odero, Academic Registrar at Fountainhead Institute Lira, pointed out the financial burden placed on rural students who must travel to Kampala for hearings, requesting that UVTAB consider holding hearings in regional institutions.
UVTAB officials acknowledged the concerns, reminding administrators that supervisor-led malpractice violates existing laws. They stressed that the board is committed to preventing cheating but emphasized the need for institutional integrity and the goodwill of those involved in the assessment process.