Two senior six students from Masaka City have been implicated in an exam malpractice scandal involving artificial intelligence (AI) specifically ChatGPT during the ongoing Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) exams. The incident took place on Monday during an afternoon history exam held at Masaka Hall, marking the first reported instance of AI being used for cheating in national exams in Uganda.
The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) revealed that Cecilia Nabahinda and Grace Nakiyimba were discovered utilizing smartphones to access AI-generated essays and condensed notes. According to Jennifer Kalule-Musamba, the UNEB Principal Public Relations Officer, one of the students used an AI tool to download a pre-written essay, while the other had saved summarized notes on her device—both in clear violation of the exam guidelines.
UNEB regulations strictly prohibit candidates from bringing unauthorized materials into examination centers, a rule aimed at maintaining the integrity of the testing process. These rules, outlined in the General Instructions and the Caution Against Malpractice document distributed to all candidates before exams, ban mobile phones and similar communication devices. Violations like these fall under the UNEB Act, which enforces stringent measures to curb all forms of cheating and protect the fairness of national assessments.
While incidents involving mobile phones have occurred in the past, this marks a significant shift as it is the first time AI has been implicated. The rapid development and accessibility of AI tools present new challenges for educational institutions and examination bodies tasked with maintaining exam integrity. The UNEB has now expanded its investigation to include this case as part of broader measures to combat exam malpractice.
