The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has withheld the results of 351 candidates, representing 0.2 percent of those who sat the 2025 Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) examinations, over suspected malpractice.
Releasing the results on Friday at State Lodge Nakasero, UNEB Executive Director Daniel Odongo said most of the reported malpractice cases involved science practical papers, possession of unauthorized materials, and impersonation.
Odongo explained that malpractice cases were reported in 47 of the 2,452 examination centres across the country, but emphasized that the overall number remains low.
“Cases of malpractice at this level have remained low. In accordance with Section 5(2)(b) of the UNEB Act, Cap 259, the results of the candidates involved will remain withheld pending completion of investigations,” he said.
He added that the Board is currently handling hearings for Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) malpractice cases and will begin hearings for Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) cases starting March 16, 2026.
According to UNEB statistics, 166,400 candidates registered for the 2025 UACE examinations, including 72,764 females (43.7 percent) and 93,636 males (56.3 percent). A total of 165,172 candidates eventually sat the exams, 72,374 females (43.8 percent) and 92,798 males (56.2 percent).
The number of examination centres also increased by 197, rising from 2,255 in 2024 to 2,452 in 2025.
During the release ceremony, the Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Kataaha Museveni, commended UNEB for successfully carrying out its mandate despite a significant rise in student numbers.
Museveni welcomed the continued reduction in school dropout rates across all levels of education. She also noted that UNEB reports show improved performance in science and mathematics, attributing the progress to ongoing curriculum reforms.
The minister called for increased budgetary support for rural humanitarian initiatives, entrepreneurship, and cultural awareness, saying these areas are vital for the country’s industrial growth.
She further urged parents and guardians to actively support their children’s learning, stressing that education should not only focus on knowledge acquisition but also on applying that knowledge to solve real-life problems.
UNEB studies, she noted, also indicate notable behavioral improvements among learners who have gone through the lower secondary competency-based curriculum. The curriculum has been streamlined to allow smoother progression from UCE to UACE while equipping learners with skills needed to address future challenges.
Museveni said the government remains committed to ensuring that education reforms not only expand access to schooling but also equip young people with practical skills for productive and innovative contributions to society.
