Law school cancels exam over fraud
Aug 20, 2008
THE Law Development Centre yesterday cancelled an examination over leakage, one hour after it started.
By Fortunate Ahimbisibwe
THE Law Development Centre yesterday cancelled an examination over leakage, one hour after it started.
The head of the commercial law department, Augustine Twesigire, walked into the examination room and ordered the 600 students to stop writing.
After this, the supervisor, lecturer Steven Mubiru, announced to the startled students that the final Commercial Transactions paper could not proceed because it had leaked.
The angry students protested what they called acute mismanagement of examinations at the centre.
They said some members of staff had leaked the examination in exchange for money and sex.
But Twesigire said many students had tipped the management that they had revised the paper throughout the weekend.
“So we cannot go on with it,†he announced. “We shall fix another date for it.â€
The candidates included former health minister Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi and former Internal Security Organisation boss Brig. Henry Tumukunde.
The students demanded an explanation but nobody addressed them. Guild president Patson Baguma, meeting the students, said: “Many of us were aware that this paper had leaked and the management decided to cancel it. Management is making efforts to prepare another examination.â€
Reports of examination malpractice at all levels are common in Uganda.
This exam scandal is the second in four months at the centre.
In March, Nester Byamugisha, the deputy head of the post-graduate department, and senior lecturer, Michael Akampurira, were suspended over examinations impropriety. However, they were later re-instated after a court appeal. Akampurira and Byamugisha, who have served for over 15 years, blamed their case on their role in the formation of a staff union. Now they want the on-going investigation into examination malpractice to be broadened to cover the high failure rate, financial management and procurement process.
Bert Katureebe, the chairman of the management committee, said the investigation would be expanded. Katureebe is also a Supreme Court justice.
The students said they would appeal to him. By lunch time, they were still camped at the school, demanding an address by management.
The institution is the only one that admits graduate lawyers to study for diplomas in legal practice.
THE Law Development Centre yesterday cancelled an examination over leakage, one hour after it started.
The head of the commercial law department, Augustine Twesigire, walked into the examination room and ordered the 600 students to stop writing.
After this, the supervisor, lecturer Steven Mubiru, announced to the startled students that the final Commercial Transactions paper could not proceed because it had leaked.
The angry students protested what they called acute mismanagement of examinations at the centre.
They said some members of staff had leaked the examination in exchange for money and sex.
But Twesigire said many students had tipped the management that they had revised the paper throughout the weekend.
“So we cannot go on with it,†he announced. “We shall fix another date for it.â€
The candidates included former health minister Maj. Gen. Jim Muhwezi and former Internal Security Organisation boss Brig. Henry Tumukunde.
The students demanded an explanation but nobody addressed them. Guild president Patson Baguma, meeting the students, said: “Many of us were aware that this paper had leaked and the management decided to cancel it. Management is making efforts to prepare another examination.â€
Reports of examination malpractice at all levels are common in Uganda.
This exam scandal is the second in four months at the centre.
In March, Nester Byamugisha, the deputy head of the post-graduate department, and senior lecturer, Michael Akampurira, were suspended over examinations impropriety. However, they were later re-instated after a court appeal. Akampurira and Byamugisha, who have served for over 15 years, blamed their case on their role in the formation of a staff union. Now they want the on-going investigation into examination malpractice to be broadened to cover the high failure rate, financial management and procurement process.
Bert Katureebe, the chairman of the management committee, said the investigation would be expanded. Katureebe is also a Supreme Court justice.
The students said they would appeal to him. By lunch time, they were still camped at the school, demanding an address by management.
The institution is the only one that admits graduate lawyers to study for diplomas in legal practice.