Five hundred thirty seven Military Police officers have completed a three-week Examination Security Course, ahead of their deployment to guard national examination materials.
The training took place at Buyala-Nsujjumpolwe Barracks in Mpigi District, according to a statement from the Defence Public Information Directorate. Of those trained, 513 will serve as station commanders and 24 as route commanders. Their main task is to make sure examination materials reach the correct stations without being tampered with.
Maj Gen William Beinomugisha, the Commandant of the Military Police, presided over the send-off of the first group, which is heading out for the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations.
He told the troops to follow the guidelines strictly, saying the assignment is a serious national duty and not a welfare posting. He added that the personnel were selected on dependability, integrity, past conduct, commitment, discipline, rank, and leadership qualities.
“As Military Police, we have to keep the image of the UPDF, to support the wise decision of the leadership from the President and Commander-in-Chief of the UPDF, and Military Police as a formation by doing good and changing the narrative to fit in the required performance,” Maj Gen Beinomugisha said.
Beinomugisha warned that anyone who breaks the rules will be arrested and charged under the UPDF Act. He also urged the troops to be polite and respectful to other stakeholders so that examination procedures run smoothly.
The deployed officers will escort convoys carrying the papers, guard storage facilities, including the secure containers that hold the papers, and help maintain the chain of custody. This includes strict control over keys and access to the locked containers at storage points.
Why the military is involved
The Military Police have been part of examination security since 2017. Before then, the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) struggled with leakages during transportation and storage.
Papers were often compromised at police stations and other transit points, sometimes through collusion among security personnel, teachers, scouts, and other insiders.
The containers were also a weak point. They were secured with ordinary padlocks, but the keys were held by different officials, including UNEB supervisors who could be compromised.
Although isolated cases of malpractice still occur, the overall problem has been significantly contained compared with the period before 2017. No leakages linked to transportation or storage have been reported in recent years.
A record exam cycle This year’s deployment comes as UNEB prepares for its largest examination cycle yet. About 1.63 million candidates are registered across the three national exams, an increase of roughly 15% from 2025.
UCE candidates number about 503,214. Briefings begin on 8 October 2026, and written papers start on 12 October 2026. The Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) and the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) will follow later in the season-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
