Over 1.4 Million to sit for UNEB exams
The national exams season is officially on! The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has launched the 2025 timetables for Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE), Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE), and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) at a colorful event held in Kololo.
This year will see a record 1,416,468 candidates sitting for their final papers across the three exam levels – the biggest number in Uganda’s history. That’s a 7.5% jump from last year’s 1.3 million.
According to UNEB Executive Director Dan Odongo, the examination marathon will begin with the UCE briefing on October 10th, followed by PLE on October 31st, and UACE on November 7th, 2025.
“We want all candidates, parents, and schools to take this period seriously and ensure everything is in order. Every candidate will get a timetable to guide them throughout the exams,” Odongo stressed. He revealed that center heads can download the schedules online, while printed copies are being dispatched countrywide. Braille timetables are also ready for learners with visual impairment.
PLE: 818,010 candidates (up from 797,444 last year), UCE: 432,025 candidates (up from 379,699 last year) and UACE: 166,433 candidates (up from 141,996 last year)
Over 1.4 Million to sit for UNEB exams
Interestingly, girls have taken the lead, making up 51.5% of all candidates compared to 48.5% boys.
This year’s UCE will be the second under the new competency-based curriculum, which doesn’t just test memory but also practical skills and attitudes. Odongo called it a “paradigm shift” meant to prepare learners for real-world challenges.
UNEB has also issued strict rules: Arrive 30 minutes early for every paper, No mobile phones or gadgets in exam rooms, No calculators for specific papers, Candidates who arrive more than 15 minutes late won’t be allowed in.
Odongo warned that malpractice whether smuggling notes, collusion, impersonation, or even disorderly behavior,will lead to cancellation of results.
“If a candidate cheats in one paper, they risk losing all their results,” he cautioned.
