Fake Exams Scandal, Kampala School Director Arrested After Two Years on the Run

The Director of Earnest Nursery and Primary School in Kisugu Parish, Makindye Division, has been arrested after two years on the run. Police say Mr. Wafula Ivan, aged 34, allegedly forged Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) results for his students back in 2020.

According to investigations, Wafula reportedly registered his P7 candidates for PLE and secretly took them to an unknown location in Busia District, where they sat for what was claimed to be official UNEB examinations. However, it was later discovered that these were not genuine exams from the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB).

After the examinations, the children were returned to Kampala, and Wafula allegedly handed them fake results and recommendation letters, claiming they were authentic. Using these falsified documents, several students were admitted into different secondary schools.

The scandal came to light in 2024, when Ebenezer Secondary School asked students from Earnest Nursery and Primary School to present their original PLE result slips before registration for the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE). When the students returned to Wafula for their documents, he failed to produce the originals. The matter was then reported to the police.

Police investigations revealed that Earnest Nursery and Primary School had not registered any PLE candidates with UNEB in 2020. The forged results and recommendation letters were retrieved and sent to UNEB for verification, which confirmed that the documents were indeed fake.

After being on the run for two years, Wafula was finally arrested yesterday. Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson SSP Patrick Onyango confirmed the arrest, noting that inquiries into the matter are still ongoing.

Police have described the incident as a serious case of forgery, impersonation, and child deception, warning other school administrators against engaging in similar acts. SSP Onyango added that the police are working closely with UNEB to ensure that all individuals involved in examination fraud are brought to justice.

The arrest of Wafula has brought relief to many parents and students who were victims of his deceit. However, it also raises deeper concerns about the growing challenge of exam malpractice and forgery within the education sector. As investigations continue, the public awaits further updates on the case that has shaken the education community in Kampala.