The Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) has presented 39 people accused of helping students cheat in the national primary school leaving examinations. The suspects were presented at RIB headquarters in Kigali on September 5, 2026. They are among 81 people arrested in connection with examination malpractice, while investigations into the remaining 42 suspects are still ongoing.
Two Deputy Mayors Among the Suspects
The 39 suspects presented include 27 men and 12 women. They are accused of involvement in examination cheating at 254 examination sites across the country. Among them are two deputy mayors and education officials from Kirehe, Ngoma, Kayonza, Nyamasheke and Rubavu districts.
The two deputy mayors are Mukanyandwi Janvière, Vice Mayor for Social Affairs in Kirehe District, and Muhayeyezu Joseph Désiré, Vice Mayor for Economic Development in Nyamasheke District.
Arrests Made in Five Districts
In Kirehe District, 21 people were arrested, of whom 11 were presented. In Ngoma, seven were arrested and five were presented. Kayonza recorded three arrests, with all three presented. In Nyamasheke, 15 people were arrested and 10 were presented, while in Rubavu, 35 were arrested and 10 were presented.
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Cheating Disguised as “Helping Children”
RIB spokesperson Dr. Murangira B. Thierry said some of the suspects disguised examination cheating as an attempt to “help children.” According to the investigation, some referred to the practice as “tekiniika” or “making medicine.”
Investigators found cases in which students from different schools had identical answers. Some pupils had reportedly erased their original answers and replaced them with answers provided to them during the examinations.
Artificial Intelligence Used to Provide Answers
In Nyamasheke District, RIB uncovered a case in which a teacher supervising examinations allegedly photographed examination questions and sent them to a librarian. The librarian then reportedly used Artificial Intelligence to generate answers, which were printed and distributed to students.
RIB said some students told investigators that they had been pressured to write the answers they were given and felt they could not refuse. The investigation also found that some teachers allegedly falsified their identities by pretending to teach lower grades in order to bypass examination regulations.
7,188 Pupils Caught Cheating
The Ministry of Education announced that 7,188 pupils were caught cheating in the national examinations. The affected pupils will be required to retake their examinations.
The case has raised concerns about the integrity of national examinations and the impact of examination malpractice on the quality of education. Authorities say examination results should reflect students’ actual knowledge and abilities rather than artificially created scores.
Suspects Face Serious Charges
The suspects face charges including abuse of authority for personal gain, use of forged documents and breach of professional secrecy. Abuse of authority for personal gain carries a prison sentence of seven to 10 years and a fine ranging from Rwf 5 million to Rwf 10 million.
Use of forged documents carries a prison sentence of five to seven years and a fine ranging from Rwf 3 million to Rwf 5 million, while breach of professional secrecy carries a prison sentence of one to two years.
Why Students Were Helped to Cheat
RIB said the alleged cheating was motivated by the desire to make districts appear successful in performance contracts by recording high examination results. However, artificially increasing students’ marks does not demonstrate genuine educational achievement.
Instead, the practice undermines learning by allowing students to obtain high scores without necessarily possessing the knowledge and skills expected at their level of education.
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Protecting the Integrity of National Examinations
The case has highlighted the importance of protecting the integrity of national examinations and ensuring that students’ results accurately represent their academic performance. It also shows how examination malpractice can involve several levels of the education system, including students, teachers and officials responsible for administering examinations.
RIB said investigations are continuing to establish the full extent of the alleged examination cheating and to hold those found responsible accountable in accordance with the law.
