Over 19,000 candidates start UBTEB exams

By Jeff Andrew Lule

The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development cleared sh2bn for Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB) to conduct its 7th examinations sitting series.

A total of 19, 716 candidates have started their Uganda Business and Technical Examinations.

The board had halted the examination process due to financial constraints.

Addressing journalists at their offices in Ntinda- Kampala, the board's, deputy executive secretary finance, human resource and administration, Onesmus Oyesigye said they got part of the money and resolved to conduct the exams.

"The problem arose because the ministry had only allocated sh4.8bn out of the sh9bn it was expected to release to the board in the 2014/2015 FY thus leaving a huge deficit," he explained.

Oyesigye said their total budget is sh15bn, with sh6bn raised from candidates' registration among other sources. "We shall supplement the sh2bn with what we have. We expect to get the rest in next financial year," he added.

This release follows a recent letter from the board to the permanent secretary, ministry education, Rose Nassali,  requesting the release of sh4.3bn supplementary funding and sh220m (for registration of government sponsored students) to conduct the May/June 2015, 7th examinations sitting series, payment of arrears to examiners and scouts who were engage in the November/December 2014 national examinations.

The board has deployed about 1,000 scouts and policemen to supervise and oversee the examination exercise countrywide.

The board's deputy executive secretary, examinations management, Dr. Wilfred Nahamya warned candidates and heads of centres at various training institutions against any form kind of malpractice.

"Centers found in such acts will have their licenses canceled and students disqualified. Heads of institutions and others involved will be arrested to face the law," he noted.

He noted that these are practical oriented courses, which help candidates apply their skills to start their own jobs than searching for jobs.

Bernard Mugeni, the board's principle examinations officer, said exams are to be conducted in about 355 centers across the country and about 50 programs/courses will be examined.

Among the courses include higher national diploma in Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Architecture, Accountancy, Journalism and Business management, Metrology, Lands and Surveys.

The first phase will comprise of 4716 candidate in Technical Colleges followed by 15,000 candidates in business and departmental institutions.

Oyesigye said the board was put in place to have a standard recognized certificate. "About 20% of the institutions do not do our exams. But you know the value of a national certificate. We want all institutions to come on board to set standards," he added.

He also asked all heads of institutions to allow students sit their exams and use other mechanisms to recover their money.

Oyesigye said the number of candidates is higher compared to that of last year who sat in the same period.

"The number is very high because the board took over all programmes that were previously examined by Uganda National Examination Board and Makerere University Business School among other individual institutions," he added.

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