By Patrick Opio
Senior Communications Officer
Lira University Examinations Malpractice and Irregularities Committee (EMIC) has warned students against temptations to cheat examinations as the vice attracts severe penalties.
Chaired by the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Assoc. Prof. Judith Akello Abal, the EMIC meeting unanimously recommended different penalties for the six students who allegedly smuggled into the examinations rooms the summaries of notes and a mobile phone with intention to cheat exams. The students were netted by the examination invigilators and supervisors during the 2nd Semester Exams administered in June 2026.The meeting took place at the Public Health Board Room on 31st July 2026.
Prof. Akello Abal noted that examination malpractice potentially destroys a university’s global reputation, devalues academic degrees, and leads to severe legal penalties for students. “We cannot tolerate or condone exams malpractices, being students or staff, the perpetrators must be punished, as a deterrent measure to others,” Prof. Abal warns.
According to Mr. Geoffrey Angela, the Academic Registrar, students caught cheating should face immediate suspension or complete expulsion. “The Examinations Policy, sections 5.2 and 5.5, are very clear against exams cheating. All students must be abreast with the Policy and just work hard to avoid temptations of committing such offence,” Mr. Angela said.
The Committee recommended cancellation of results of the papers cheated and the affected students would redo such papers until such a time when offered.
The students were from the faculties of education and Computing and Information Technology.
EMIC is comprised of high profile academic and administrative staff including all faculty Deans, Directors and professors.
Meanwhile, the day-to-day operations of Lira University are running normally, with effective and efficient services offered by the strong team of enthusiastic staff headed by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Jasper Ogwal Okeng, as opposed to some negative reports in the media and other forum. The staff are over prepared and ready to receive the over 3,000 freshers(recently admitted students) and thousands of the continuing students for the 1st Semester in August 2026.