KAMPALA — The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) assessed 1,402,434 candidates across Uganda’s three national examinations in 2025, reflecting a steady rise in the number of learners completing key education cycles.
Speaking during the official release of the 2025 Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) results at State House Nakasero, UNEB chairperson Prof Celestino Obua said the total candidature increased from 1,294,731 candidates in 2024.
The examinations assessed include the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE), the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) and the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE).
Prof Obua said the most notable growth was recorded at the UACE level, where the number of candidates rose by 17.2 percent, increasing from 141,996 in 2024 to 166,400 in 2025.
“This sustained growth in candidature at the UACE level reflects expanded access to post-O’ Level education and growing public confidence in the credibility of national assessments,” Obua said.
He noted that as more students sit the examinations each year, the board remains focused on maintaining academic standards, ensuring fairness in assessment and preserving the credibility of national grading systems.
“While statistical fluctuations may arise as the candidate population widens, the integrity of grading standards has been maintained,” he added.
The UNEB chairperson also pointed out that the number of candidates who register but fail to sit the examinations has continued to decline, a trend he attributed to improved supervision and stronger completion rates at school level.
Girls continue to outperform boys
According to UNEB, female candidates maintained a stronger academic performance in several Humanities subjects and recorded lower overall failure rates compared to their male counterparts.
Obua said the trend reflects the impact of continued investment in girl-child education across the country.
However, he noted that subject choices remain gendered, with more female candidates concentrated in Humanities than in Science subjects.
The board believes that encouraging both male and female students to participate more broadly in Sciences will help create better balance in future professional fields.
Malpractice cases remain low
Meanwhile, UNEB Executive Director Dan Odongo said examination malpractice at the UACE level remained relatively low.
He said 351 candidates, representing 0.2 percent of the total candidature, were implicated in malpractice cases reported from 47 out of 2,452 examination centres.
The cases mainly involved receiving assistance during science practical papers, possession of unauthorized materials, and impersonation.
“In accordance with Section 5(2)(b) of the UNEB Act, the results of candidates involved will be withheld pending completion of investigations,” Odongo said.
He added that hearings for PLE malpractice cases are ongoing, while hearings for UCE cases will begin on March 16, 2026.
UNEB officials say the board will continue strengthening monitoring and supervision systems to safeguard the credibility of national examinations as candidature continues to grow.