The Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board (UVTAB) has recorded an 84.4 per cent full competence rate in the May/June 2026 end-of-programme assessments, as the number of candidates assessed rose by 61 per cent compared to the same period last year.
A total of 17,262 candidates registered for the assessments, up from 10,735 in May/June 2025. Of these, 17,038 candidates sat the examinations, representing a 99 per cent attendance rate, compared with 80 per cent recorded in the corresponding assessment series last year.
According to the UVTAB Executive Secretary, CPA Onesmus Oyesigye, 14,382 candidates, representing 84.4 per cent of those assessed, acquired full competence in their respective fields, while 2,656 candidates, or 15.6 per cent, acquired partial competence.
The overall full competence rate improved by three percentage points from the 81 per cent recorded in May/June 2025, pointing to an improvement in performance despite the significant increase in candidature.
Females accounted for 6,268 of those who acquired full competence, while males accounted for 8,114. Among female candidates who sat the assessments, 84.3 per cent acquired full competence, compared with 84.3 per cent of their male counterparts.
Performance was stronger at National Diploma level, where 10,641 of the 12,163 candidates assessed acquired full competence, representing 87.5 per cent.
At National Certificate level, 3,741 of the 4,875 candidates assessed acquired full competence, translating into 76.7 per cent.
The results further showed that most candidates who attained full competence achieved Class II (Credit). At National Diploma level, 8,878 candidates, representing 83 per cent of those who acquired full competence, obtained Class II, while 1,583 candidates (15 per cent) attained Class I (Distinction) and 180 (2 per cent) obtained Class III (Pass).
At National Certificate level, 3,113 candidates (83 per cent) attained Class II, 503 (14 per cent) obtained Class I, while 125 (3 per cent) attained Class III.
Agriculture Education and Training recorded the strongest outcome at National Diploma level, with 1,546 candidates, representing 98.2 per cent, acquiring full competence.
Home Science followed at 90.5 per cent, Business Education at 88.6 per cent and Technology Education at 84.6 per cent.
At National Certificate level, Home Science Education and Training recorded the highest full competence rate at 90.8 per cent, followed by Agriculture at 83.3 per cent, Business Education at 78.7 per cent and Technology Education at 65.5 per cent.
The assessment also covered 57 candidates with special needs who turned up for the examinations. Of these, 48, or 84.2 per cent, acquired full competence, including seven distinctions, 38 credits and three passes.
The Executive Secretary, Onesmus Oyesigye attributed the results to strengthened quality assurance measures covering test-item development, moderation, registration, assessment administration, marking and results processing.
He noted that the Board deployed supervisors and scouts, conducted industrial training inspections, carried out on-the-spot practical assessments and introduced marks verification, adjudication and activity-tracking mechanisms to strengthen the integrity of the assessment process.
However, he revealed that the results also identified competency gaps in several areas. In Technology Education and Training, weaknesses were noted in Automobile Engineering, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Automotive Engine Technology II, Building Services and Software Engineering at diploma level.
In Business Education and Training, Entrepreneurship Skills, Elements of Taxation and Shorthand IV emerged among the areas requiring improvement.
Oyesigye said the findings point to the need for targeted remedial training, stronger practical instruction and closer support for programmes where higher levels of partial competence were recorded.
The Acting Minister of Education and Sports, John C. Muyingo, congratulated the candidates who had successfully acquired all the required competencies and encouraged those with partial competence to return and perfect their skills when the opportunity is offered.
The Minister noted that the growing participation in TVET demonstrates increasing interest in skills-based education, while urging the Ministry to strengthen career guidance in primary and secondary schools to help learners make informed choices about technical and vocational training.
The May/June 2026 assessments were conducted between May 15 and June 12 in 260 assessment centres across the country.