A total of 503,055 candidates on Monday began the 2026 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations, with the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) reporting that examination papers reached all centres despite flooding caused by heavy rains in some parts of the country.
Candidates started with Mathematics Paper 1 in the morning, followed by Chemistry Papers 1 and 2 in the afternoon.
In a press release dated October 12, 2026, UNEB said preliminary reports indicated that examinations had commenced smoothly nationwide, although flooding disrupted road access in some areas.
The board said its teams ensured the first batch of examination papers was delivered to all examination centres in time and that it was continuing to monitor the situation to ensure the safe delivery of examination materials and smooth conduct of the examinations.
This year’s candidature represents a 16.4% increase from the 432,165 candidates who registered for the examinations in 2025.
Of the 503,055 candidates, 264,722 are female, representing 52.7%, while 238,333 are male, accounting for 47.3%. They are sitting their examinations at 4,514 centres across the country.
The 2026 cohort is the fourth to be assessed under the competency-based curriculum at the UCE level.
Government-sponsored candidates increase
UNEB said 187,918 candidates, representing 37.3% of the total candidature, are sponsored under the Universal Secondary Education (USE) programme, up from 154,642 in 2025.
The remaining 315,132 candidates are privately sponsored or outside the USE programme.
The board also reported that 906 candidates with special educational needs had been registered, with provisions made to support their participation in the examinations.
Blind candidates were provided with Braille answer sheets, while those with low vision received large-print question papers. Deaf candidates were assigned sign language interpreters, and candidates with severe physical impairments were provided with support personnel to handle apparatus during practical examinations.
Transcribers were also provided for candidates with dyslexia and other reading and writing difficulties.
UNEB deploys scouts, security personnel
To safeguard the examinations, UNEB said it had deployed more than 2,000 scouts and nearly 600 security personnel countrywide.
The board also warned the public against involvement in social media groups trading purported leaked examination papers.
It said six suspects were remanded by a magistrate’s court in Kampala last week until October 19, 2026, over allegations of trading fake examination papers on social media platforms.
UNEB warned that possessing or attempting to obtain examination papers or related information without authorisation is an offence under Section 25 of the UNEB Act, Cap 259, whether the material is genuine or fake.
Upon conviction, the offence attracts a fine of up to Shs40 million, imprisonment for up to 10 years, or both.
Under Section 26, teachers, invigilators, scouts and examination officials who assist candidates to cheat, or negligently fail to prevent such assistance, face a fine of up to Shs20 million, imprisonment for up to five years, or both.
The board urged members of the public with information about examination malpractice to report it through its toll-free line, 0800-211-077. It said informants would be protected and compensated once their information was verified.
Schools warned against blocking candidates over fees
UNEB also reminded head teachers not to prevent candidates from entering examination rooms or withdraw them from examinations because of outstanding school fees.
The board said such actions posed a threat to examination security and urged parents and schools to resolve fee-related issues without disrupting candidates’ participation.
The examinations continue as UNEB monitors security arrangements and the delivery of examination materials across the country.