Police in Kabale District have arrested the headteacher of Rwababa Primary School, Drake Kisheija, for allegedly preventing a registered Primary Seven candidate from sitting the Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) over a Shs70,000 coaching fee.
According to police, Kisheija reportedly stopped the pupil, Ezekiel Ahimbisibwe (Index No. 002/002472), from writing the exams, claiming he had not paid the additional money charged for extra lessons conducted during the recent teachers’ strike.
The arrest followed a complaint lodged at Kabale Central Police Station by the pupil’s relative, Gerald Natuhumuza Esau, who said that Ahimbisibwe had met all the official Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) requirements and was fully registered to sit the national exams.
When questioned, the headteacher allegedly said the pupil was not present at the school when the examination began and was only brought by police when the paper was almost over.
Kigezi Regional Police Spokesperson Elly Maate confirmed the arrest, saying investigations are underway to establish the truth.
“This is an allegation under investigation, and the outcome will guide the next steps. It is unfortunate for the young boy to miss his exams, and police strongly condemns such actions,” Maate stated.
The Uganda National Examinations Board has consistently warned school heads against blocking registered candidates from sitting exams over unofficial or unauthorised fees.
