Lira City Senior Inspector of Schools Arrested Over Alleged Millions Extorted in UNEB Registration Scam
LIRA CITY, UGANDA — The Senior Inspector of Schools for Lira City, Tom Ronald Omara, alongside an accomplice, has been arrested following allegations of extorting millions of shillings from local school headteachers. The duo allegedly threatened school administrators with administrative sanctions over fabricated examination registration irregularities.
The arrest was executed in a joint operation involving the police and security personnel from the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB).
The Extortion Scheme
According to preliminary police reports, the alleged scam operated through a coordinated setup targeting primary and secondary school headteachers across Lira City:
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Initial Threat: Omara would contact a targeted headteacher, claiming that UNEB’s legal affairs department had flagged severe irregularities in their candidates’ national examination registrations.
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Impersonation: Shortly after, his accomplice, identified as Ambrose Okot (also operating under the alias William Musinguzi), would contact the victim posing as UNEB’s head of legal affairs.
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Demand for Cash: The victims were threatened with sanctions, candidate disqualifications, or legal action unless hefty payments were made to “settle” the matter discreetly.
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Collection Point: Headteachers were instructed to hand over cash to save their schools from penalty, with transactions reportedly taking place at a local establishment in Lira City.
Joint Investigation and Public Call
Speaking on the operation, police spokespersons and UNEB representatives—including UNEB spokesperson Jennifer Kalule-Mulumba—confirmed that security forces intervened following complaints raised affected school heads.
Regional police spokesperson SP Patrick Jimmy Okema urged school administrators, headteachers, and members of the public who may have fallen victim to the scam or been approached the suspects to come forward. Authorities are seeking to gather additional evidence to trace all funds extorted under the scheme.
Broader Context and UNEB Guidance
The arrest comes amidst heightened vigilance UNEB ahead of national candidate examinations. Examination authorities have reminded the public and educational stakeholders that:
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Official Channels: UNEB does not handle candidate registration queries, penalties, or administrative issues via informal cash payments or private intermediaries.
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Direct Reporting: Any suspected fraud, extortion attempts, or official impersonation should be reported immediately to the nearest police station or directly to official UNEB communication channels.
Both suspects remain in custody as police complete investigations before presenting charges in court.
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