Uneb Distances Itself from Forged Academic Documents ‎ -

The Uganda National Examinations Board has clarified that it is not responsible for the rising circulation of forged academic documents, stressing that authentic records are securely maintained in its official database.

‎The executive director of the Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb), Dan Odongo, has distanced the board from the growing use of forged academic documents in Uganda, particularly by individuals seeking political or public office.

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‎He emphasized that Uneb maintains an official database where all results and certificates are securely stored.

‎Odongo was appearing before the Parliamentary Committee on Education alongside officials from the Ministry of Education and Sports, led by State Minister Peter Ogwang.

‎The team was updating committee members on the progress of the new secondary school curriculum, highlighting findings from a survey conducted in 171 schools involving head teachers and students.

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‎However, the focus quickly shifted to concerns over forged academic qualifications, with committee members expressing alarm at the rising trend.

‎Nathan Itungo, MP for Kashari South, recounted examples of politicians allegedly using forged documents to secure positions.

‎“I remember, Chair, the late Al Hajj [Nasser Ntege] Sebagala when he was contesting as mayor—there were numerous issues with his documents, and he kept referring to Uneb. Many politicians have since followed suit, and some have even won elections using forged academic records,” Itungo said.

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‎Responding to the allegations, Odongo acknowledged the problem but clarified that tracking and apprehending individuals using counterfeit transcripts falls under the mandate of the police.

‎“The board has no control over counterfeit certificates obtained from illicit printers, and we do not have knowledge of where they are produced. However, we know such documents exist, and it is the responsibility of the police to act on them,” Odongo told the committee.

‎He reiterated that authentic Uneb certificates are securely stored in the board’s database, which allows for verification of academic records whenever required.

‎Odongo also defended Uneb’s certification process, stating that certificates are issued only to candidates who meet the required standards.

‎For the Uganda Certificate of Education, candidates must have obtained at least a Grade 4 in the relevant subjects under the past curriculum.

‎For the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education, candidates must have at least one subsidiary pass in a principal subject to qualify.