Sigh of relief as withheld UCE results are released

PIC: Students of Crested SS Makindye rejoice with their headteacher after receiving the results that had been withheld by UNEB over suspected malpractice. (Credit: Denis Nsubuga)

EDUCATION | RELEASE OF FORMERLY WITHHELD RESULTS

KAMPALA - The atmosphere at Crested Secondary School, Makindye in Kampala on Friday afternoon was, precisely, blissful. Ululations, singing, hugging and jumping up and about, followed the news of the release of their 2017 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) results.

For the former Senior Four candidates that had turned up at school, it was a relief.

At least it showed on their faces, for they cheered their headteacher, Lydia Kabandize, after spotting her with a red sachet in her hand. In it were their results which had been withheld since the official national release of the results on February 7.

The teenagers rejoiced for it is been more than a month of uncertainty. They thronged their smiling headteacher. But soon the relief turned into anticipation, with students eager to know what they had scored. That was shortly before elations really filled the air.

Anticipation; students throng their headteacher to glance at their results on Friday. (Credit: Denis Nsubuga)

“When I learnt that our results were withheld, I felt so low. I could not believe this was happening to me, my results! It was not until I was comforted. I then resorted to praying and hoping that they would be released,” said Ian Malega, who scored aggregate 15.

“I am excited that the results are back and I have passed,” he said, adding that he was going to pursue biology, chemistry and mathematics at A’level because he wants to be a doctor.

Malega (pictured left) was one of the 80 students of the school whose results had been withheld by the Uganda National Examination Board (UNEB) over suspicion of examination malpractices. Out of 91 students, results of only 11 students were initially released, according to Kabandize.

She revealed that UNEB’s decision was made on suspicion that her students got external support.

“After thorough investigations, UNEB called us to meet the security board and they found out there had been no external assistance. So they released the results,” Kabandize said.

Although she thanked UNEB for its transparency through the whole process, Kabandize advised them on the importance of doing thorough investigation before they publicise the schools, “because it tarnishes images and names of both innocent students and the schools.”

She congratulated her students. We left them on an assembly, singing: “The spirit of the Lord is upon me and devil knows I am a winner. The spirit of success is upon me and the devil knows I am a winner. I am a winner. I am pressing on.”