Education Minister Hails Improved UCE Performance, Sets Feb 18 for S5 Placement

KAMPALA — The Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Kataaha Museveni, has praised the improved performance of learners in the 2025 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations, describing the results as encouraging and a sign that Uganda’s education reforms are beginning to yield results.

While releasing the second set of end-of-cycle examination results issued by the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB), the Minister thanked candidates, teachers, UNEB officials and security agencies for their contribution to a smooth examination process.

“I must, first of all, thank God for this day when as a Ministry, we are releasing the second set of results of the end-of-cycle examinations conducted by UNEB,” Museveni said.

She noted that the 2025 results represent the second cohort of learners to complete Senior Four under the Competency-Based Lower Secondary Curriculum, which was rolled out in January 2020.

Museveni also welcomed a 20 percent increase in the number of candidates registered, and described the low absenteeism rate of 0.5 percent as a positive indicator that more learners are staying in school until completion of the O-Level cycle.

“The 2025 UCE results, as reported by UNEB, paint a very encouraging picture. The percentages of learners reaching defined levels of competencies has improved from those of the 2024 cohort,” she said.

The Minister congratulated all candidates who sat the examinations and encouraged those who did not perform well to take advantage of the opportunity to re-sit, noting that their Continuous Assessment scores would be carried forward.

“For those who did not get a satisfactory performance, there is an opportunity to re-sit and your Continuous Assessment scores shall be carried over,” she said.

Museveni also applauded parents and guardians for supporting learners through the education cycle and urged them to embrace the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) pathway as an alternative for learners pursuing skills-based careers.

“I cannot thank the parents and guardians enough for the effort you make to get your children to this level, and I encourage you to also embrace the fully established TVET pathway,” she added.

Senior Five Placement Exercise Set for February

In the same announcement, the Ministry confirmed that the Senior Five selection and placement exercise will be conducted on February 18 and 19, 2026.

The Minister further stated that Term One for Senior Five will officially begin on Thursday, March 5, 2026.

Results Access and Explanation of Key Categories

The Ministry of Education and Sports also clarified that the UCE results have already been uploaded on examination centre portals for schools to download, although hard copies are not yet available.

Schools will be informed when the physical result slips are ready for collection from UNEB offices in Kyambogo.

Museveni reiterated that Uganda’s education reforms are aimed at producing learners equipped with both academic knowledge and practical skills, aligned to modern demands.

“As more children embrace the competency-based education system, they will be fully empowered and so will Uganda. A new era is unfolding for our homeland,” she said.

The UCE examinations form part of Uganda’s end-of-cycle assessment at Ordinary Level and are a key requirement for learners transitioning to A-Level or other post-secondary pathways.