By Andrew Irumba
Wakiso: At least 45 candidates at Green Star High school in Katabi town council, Wakiso district, risk missing national examinations this year after their head teacher allegedly swindled their UNEB exam registration fees.
According to the affected candidates, between February and March, Yusuf Mulwana, the head teacher, collected Shs5.4m for registration from them but did not wire it to Uganda National Examination Board (UNEB) bank account. He allegedly instead bought sweets for his dear ones and the balance he used it to buy brand new suites for himself. Annet Kyalimpa, a senior six candidate said; “My mother sent Shs430,000 on Mulwana’s mobile phone,part of the money was for registration for UNEB exams and the other part was school fees. Unfortunately, the head teacher didn’t pass on the money to the bursar and as we were going for the first term holiday my report was confiscated under the pretext that I had a debt with the school, which was not true.”
Kyalimpa said when she approached Mulwana he convinced her that he had banked the money. “For a month now he has been dodging me and rarely reports to school until I realized that he had conned me. That was when I reported the matter to the school director,” she added. Ronald Kaaya, another affected student said that “I noticed that my name was missing on the list of cleared students after checking with the school head teacher.” Following numerous complaints from students, Suleiman Turye, the school director alerted police, which arrested Mulwana. On Wednesday, he appeared before the Entebbe chief magistrate Mary Babirye on charges of obtaining money by false pretence. He pleaded not guilty before telling court that he used the money to pay rent and clearing hospital bills for his expectant wife since he had spent six months without receiving salary.
Mulwana pleaded with the magistrate not to remand him, saying he is ready to pay back the money. However, the magistrate remanded him to Kigo prison until July 22 when hearing of the case is expected to commence. Turye said he has made arrangements with UNEB to ensure that the affected candidates are registered to sit for exams. Registration of candidates for UNEB exams ended on May 31st. However, those who register late have to pay 50 percent of the total registration fee by June 30. According to UNEB, candidates sitting Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) in public schools this year have to pay Shs164,000 yet their counterparts in private schools pay shs179,000. Those planning to sit for Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) in public schools pay Shs186,000 while those in private schools are charged Shs204,000.
