PLE: Delays in Kitgum as floods, blocked roads hinder exam delivery

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KITGUM - The start of this year’s Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) in Kitgum district was marred by logistical and weather-related challenges, as floods and transport delays disrupted the smooth conduct of exams in several schools.

In many hard-to-reach areas, examinations began later than scheduled after vehicles transporting UNEB examination materials were delayed overnight.

According to a report from the Kitgum district education department, trucks carrying the exam papers became stuck in Lagwenolim, Acholi Bur town council in neighbouring Pader district, when a heavy truck blocked the narrow road, causing traffic to come to a standstill throughout the night.

The homestead affected by floods. (Photo by Christopher Nyeko)

The vehicles were rescued early Monday morning by police officers dispatched from Kitgum Central Police Station, enabling the distribution of exam papers to proceed later in the day.

Oryem Charles Olweny, the Kitgum district secretary for education and health, confirmed the incident, explaining that while the materials eventually arrived, the delay forced the district to deploy nine motorcycles to ensure timely delivery to all examination centres.

“Examinations in some schools started between 9:30 am and 10:30 am,” Oryem said. “We made every effort to make sure all candidates sat for their papers despite the delay.”

Kitgum district has 85 PLE examination centres with 2,978 registered candidates this year.

However, Oryem expressed concern that some pupils who missed the district’s mock exams — particularly the 528 candidates who dropped out during the UNATU teachers’ strike — may also fail to sit for the national examinations.

While logistical setbacks delayed the delivery of exam materials in some areas, flooding posed an additional challenge for pupils and parents in Mucwini East subcounty.

At Lagotcugu Primary School, the only centre serving two schools, heavy rains cut off access routes after the Aringa Bridge was submerged, preventing pupils from Pubech parish and surrounding areas from reaching the school.

Herbert Richard Odongo, the LCIII chairperson of Mucwini East subcounty, said parents abandoned their morning chores to escort their children to the school to ensure they did not miss the first day of exams.

“Parents came together early in the morning to help their children cross the flooded area so that they could reach school in time for their exams,” Odongo said.

Lagotcugu Primary School has 39 registered candidates, including 42 transferred from Larakaraka Primary School, which was rendered inaccessible due to the floods.

Odongo added that some PLE candidates from distant villages are now being accommodated at the school or staying temporarily with relatives during the examination period.

Nationally, the 2025 Primary Leaving Examinations began on Monday, with Mathematics in the morning and Social Studies and Religious Education in the afternoon. The exams are scheduled to conclude on Tuesday (November 4), with Integrated Science in the morning and English in the afternoon.