The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has raised concerns over the growing problem of examination malpractice, with certain districts showing alarming trends despite ongoing efforts to uphold integrity.
During his speech during the official release of 2025 PLE results at State House Nakasero in Kampala on Friday the Executive Director of UNEB, Dan Odongo, revealed that cases of candidates receiving direct assistance during exams have become more brazen.
Scouts and invigilators are reportedly bribed or threatened by school leaders, forcing them to allow teachers to intervene during examinations. In one shocking incident, a teacher was caught conducting a lesson in an examination room.
“Some of our would-be partners in district education offices are becoming complicit in these acts, which is deeply troubling,” Odongo said. “We are determined to restore sanity and ensure examinations are conducted fairly.”
Odongo noted that the Board has already taken action: arrests have been made, some individuals are serving jail sentences, and others are on remand awaiting court hearings. In accordance with the UNEB Act, results of affected candidates are being withheld pending investigations, with fair hearings guaranteed before final decisions are made — which may include cancellation of results.
The districts most affected include Kisoro, Kampala, Mukono, Namutumba, Kasanda, Buyende, and Kaliro. Surprisingly, Kisoro, previously regarded as a safe district, now accounts for a significant number of malpractice cases. However, Odongo praised the leadership in Chegejojo, Kabarore, and Bundibugyo districts for demonstrating improvements, signaling that positive change is possible.
Odongo called for increased vigilance and cooperation from all education stakeholders, emphasizing that upholding examination integrity is crucial to maintaining public trust in Uganda’s education system.
Meanwhile, At Mbarara Main Prison Inmates Primary School, candidates have demonstrated remarkable resilience and performance in the recent national examinations. Out of 58 candidates, four achieved Division 1, 27 secured Division 2, 13 obtained Division 3, five were in Division 4, and nine were ungraded. Three candidates did not sit for the exams, reportedly due to early release from prison.
At the prison school, 40 candidates registered for the exams, with 39 taking part. Of these, seven achieved Division 1, 15 Division 2, 10 Division 3, five Division 4, and two were ungraded.
Special needs candidates also performed admirably. Of the 3,636 registered candidates with varying disabilities—including blindness, low vision, deafness, physical handicaps, and dyslexia—1,761 attained Division 1, 779 Division 2, 436 Division 3, 431 Division 4, and 194 were ungraded. Thirty-five candidates registered but did not take the examinations.
Odongo, who has closely monitored the performance of prison school candidates, praised the children for their dedication under difficult circumstances. “These candidates have shown that with determination and support, learning can thrive even in the most challenging environments,” he said.
Examiners and curriculum specialists also noted that UNEB’s examination papers reflect a shift to competency-based learning. However, candidates struggled in Social Studies and Religious Education, where applying knowledge to real-life community and national issues was required.
Odongo further highlighted the challenges posed by exam papers circulated by unofficial bureaus, which mimic UNEB formats. “These materials mislead teachers and students, undermining genuine preparation,” he said. Despite this, the performance of the candidates remains commendable, signaling hope and progress for prison-based education.
A total of 817,883 candidates from 15,388 examination centres registered for the 2025 Primary Leaving Examination (PLE), compared to 797,444 candidates in 2024.
Of this total, 522,036 candidates (63.8%) from 11,525 centres were Universal Primary Education (UPE) beneficiaries, while 295,847 candidates (36.2%) from 3,863 centres were non-UPE candidates. The results were released by the Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni.
