By Eric Yiga
A primary school teacher has been remanded to Kauga Prison over allegations that she smuggled unauthorised materials containing answers to the 2026 Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) Mathematics paper into an examination room while serving as a transcriber for a candidate with special needs.
Juliet Mwesigwa, 49, a resident of Butabira Village in Buikwe District, appeared before Mukono Chief Magistrate Paul Matyama and was charged with examination malpractice, contrary to Section 26 of the National Examinations Board Act, 2021.
The alleged offence occurred on November 3, 2026, at Victorious Primary School in Nakapinyi North, Nama Sub-county, Mukono District.
Prosecutors allege that Mwesigwa entered the examination room with papers containing answers to the Mathematics examination paper. She had been assigned to serve as a transcriber for a candidate who required special examination arrangements.
The role of a transcriber is to record or assist in recording a candidate’s responses under strict examination regulations. However, the position does not permit the introduction of unauthorised materials or providing candidates with answers.
Mwesigwa denied the charges.
Senior Resident State Attorney Emily Ninsima told court that investigations into the matter were still ongoing and requested an adjournment. The magistrate granted the application and remanded Mwesigwa to Kauga Prison until November 11, 2026.
The incident has raised concerns about the safeguards governing special examination arrangements during national examinations. Transcribers and other support personnel are entrusted with ensuring that candidates with disabilities or special needs participate in examinations on an equal footing with other candidates.
Their responsibilities require the highest standards of integrity, as any introduction of unauthorised materials or leaked answers could give candidates an unfair advantage and undermine the credibility of examination results.
National examinations such as the PLE play a critical role in determining pupils’ progression to secondary education. Parents, schools and the public rely on the credibility of the results, making the integrity of examination personnel and the handling of examination materials particularly important.
The allegations against Mwesigwa also raise questions about supervision procedures, the security of examination materials and the vetting of personnel assigned to sensitive examination duties.
Victorious Primary School headteacher, identified only as Christine, was contacted for comment but said she was not aware of the incident.
It remains unclear how the papers allegedly containing the answers were obtained or how they found their way into the examination room. Authorities have also not indicated whether other individuals could have been involved in the alleged malpractice.
Investigations are ongoing.
