UNEB boss Matthew Bukenya''s contract expires

Jun 29, 2013

After 16 years of serving the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) as secretary, Matthew Bukenya is set to leave if his contract is not renewed.

By Francis Kagolo

After 16 years of serving on the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) as secretary, Matthew Bukenya is set to leave if his contract is not renewed.

Bukenya’s contract, together with those of four others, are said to have expired in December although they kept in office to finalise work that was pending at the time.

Education minister Jessica Alupo  said Bukenya’s fate lay in the hands of the UNEB governing board, which is mandated to choose the candidates for appointment.

“I received a letter from UNEB chairman Fagil Mandy informing me that Bukenya’s contract had expired. It is now upon the board to renew the contract or choose another person,” Alupo said

“The board will recommend to me any person they choose and I will forward the name to the President for appointment,” she added.

Other officials, whose contracts are said to have expired, include principal examination officers Christopher Muziribi and Steven Otorot plus Jonathan Mukambya, who is in-charge of the printery.

Bukenya, who is about 80 years old, once served as an accountant in UNEB and retired after clocking 60 years. He was recalled in 1997 to act as secretary after the Government sacked David Livingstone Ongom.

At the time, UNEB was struggling to control the rampant examination malpractices. Bukenya and his team later managed to significantly reduce the leakages. They introduced changes in the setting, management and marking of examinations, including concealing names of examiners and sacking those who would publicise their identity.

The team also stopped ranking best students according to districts in a bid to reduce unnecessary competition among schools.

When contacted yesterday, Bukenya sounded reluctant to seek another term, although he said he was being requested by ‘many forces’ to accept five more years.

The board is meeting today to discuss the matter.

 

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