Four arrested over impersonation in Gulu University mature-age entry exams

Four suspects have been arrested for allegedly attempting to sit Gulu University’s mature-age pre-entry medical examinations on behalf of other candidates last Saturday.

The suspects were identified as Enoch Ssempija, aged 25 from Kampala, who allegedly attempted to sit the exams on behalf of Isaac Mbanadho; Lawrence Mukiibi, 39, also from Kampala, who was reportedly impersonating Masosha Esau; Hama Abaho, 26, from Ntungamo, accused of sitting for Samuel Omara; and Williams Aine, 28, from Kampala, who attempted to take the exam for Timothy Wycliff Kyeyune.

According to university officials, 302 applicants were verified to sit for the mature-age entry exams, including 162 candidates for the medicine course. Gulu University spokesperson James Ojok Onono said the arrests followed the vigilance of examination invigilators who noticed inconsistencies between the suspects’ physical features and the photographs on their national identity cards (IDs).

Ojok said the invigilators and security officers observed forged national IDs with suspicious features that did not match those issued by the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA).

“These people, on interrogation, said they prepared these national identifications from Nassar Road in Kampala. They were not smart enough because the pictures were of themselves who were impersonating and taking the examination, but the names were for the real registered people they were sitting on behalf of,” said Ojok.

He condemned the impersonation as “a serious academic crime” and “unacceptable within the university system.” He commended the swift response of invigilators, lecturers, and security officers, noting that their vigilance preserved the integrity of the examination process, saying such acts tarnish the integrity of the university and the education system at large.

Under the mature-age entry scheme, Ugandans aged 25 and above can access higher education by sitting for two examinations, a general paper and a subject-specific paper, as an alternative route to university admission.

University officials noted that this was the first known case of impersonation in Gulu University’s mature-age entry exams and pledged tighter security measures in future. The suspects are currently detained at the Gulu University police post and face charges of impersonation, falsification, and forgery of documents.

The case has been registered under reference SD. REF 04/25/10/2025 and is expected to be transferred to Gulu Central police station for further investigation.