By Kitts D. Mabonga
KAMPALA
As the country’s eyes are focused on the primary leaving examinations (PLE) which season begins Tuesday 7th November 2023 with candidates briefing by UNEB officials, the government has issued out a strong warning to any potential saboteur of the exercise saying prison awaits them.
Sounding the warning was the state minister for higher education Dr. Chrysistome Muyingo while officiating and witnessing the formal hand over of office by the outgoing UNEB board chairperson Prof.Mary Okwakol to her incoming counterpart Prof. Celestino Obua during a brief but colorful historical ceremony held at the UNEB headquarters in Kyambogo.
Muyingo pointed out that there have been some small pockets of cases of crime related to exams indiscipline committed by some individuals across the country during the ongoing UCE examinations and that government has tightened the belt for the upcoming PLE exams and warns that anybody that would risk abusing the rules of the game shall end up in prison.
![](https://eastafricangazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/UNEB-8-1024x657.jpg)
“We would like to inform the general public that the government has the capacity to ensure that nobody interferes with the upcoming PLE exams because the security system is very tight and whoever attempts to cause disruption risks spending the rest of their lives in prison’ warned the minister.
He pointed out that the PLE briefing exercise begins on Tuesday morning to be followed by the real exams on Wednesday and Thursday respectively and that the government expects all stakeholders to support the exercise by reporting any cases of suspected malpractices to security agencies which are tasked with the role and duty of protecting the entire exercise.
The minister wished the candidate the best of luck and said they should all have trust in their Almighty God/Allah the creator of the universe and provider of wisdom who would guide them during the next two days as they sit for their promotional examinations.
‘The government including the president, first lady and minister of education and sports together with the entire mankind wishes all PLE candidates the best as they sit for their exams 2023’ noted Dr. Muyingo.
Turning to the handover ceremony, Muyingo commended the outgoing UNEB board chairperson Prof.Mary Okwakol for being a strong pillar in as far as shaping the positive future journey of UNEB was concerned and pointed out that government appreciates her concerted and relentless efforts which helped build a strong public reputation for UNEB.
![](https://eastafricangazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/UNEB-6-1-1024x660.jpg)
‘On behalf of the president, the first lady and minister of education who is the appointing authority in this particular regard and all citizens of the country, we wish to salute and honor the good job done at UNEB by the outgoing board chairperson Prof.Okwakol and wish her the best in her endeavors of serving her motherland Uganda’ noted Muyingo.
He congratulated the incoming new board chairperson Prof.Celestino Obum upon his new appointment by the minister of education saying he must have been a man of exceptional character which zeal helped drive the appointing authority to pick on him for this top job.
The minister urged him to work with the new 11th board team members and ensure that they continue building on the pillars set out by Prof.Okwakol.
Prof.Okwakol in her handover remarks thanked the government of Uganda for entrusting her with the mandate to oversee the development and shaping the future of UNEB saying it was the concerted efforts by the entire team which gave her all the necessary tools and logistics not forgetting the conducive working environment ushered in by government that enabled her to deliver.
![](https://eastafricangazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/UNEB-2.jpg)
The incoming chairperson Prof.Obua who had been working on the same board with Prof.Okwakol for the last two terms said he would ensure that he builds on the achievements set out by Mary’s legacy and work with all stakeholders to deliver UNEB to the next level of confidence given that it commands relentless respect and honor with a good image and reputation within the East African Community (EAC) regional settings and beyond.
![](https://eastafricangazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/UNEB-3-704x1024.jpg)
‘Kindly fellow citizens join hands with me in working together as a team such that we can collectively deliver UNEB to the next level of success’ observed Prof.Obua who added that the journey is not easy but with the blessing of both God and the society they will together deliver.
![](https://eastafricangazette.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/UNEB-4.jpg)