By Ouni Jaspher
State House Nakasero: The statement of release for the 2025 Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education -UACE Examination Results indicates an increase of 107,703 (8.3 per cent) from 2024 with a gradual decrease in drop-out rates.
Prof Celestino Obua, the UNEB Chairperson said “This year, the Board assessed a total of 1,402,434 candidates for certification across the three national examinations: Primary Leaving Examination (PLE), Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE), and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE). This represents an increase from 1,294,731 candidates in 2024.
Obua noted that UACE candidature increased by 17.2%, rising from 141,996 candidates in 2024 to 166,400 in 2025.
He said the Board continues to observe sustained growth in candidature at the UACE level, reflecting expanded access to post-O’ Level education and growing public confidence in the credibility of national assessments.
UNEB ED Dan Odongo explained that the “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 candidates involved will be withheld pending completion of investigations”.
He said Malpractice cases were reported from 47 out of the 2,452 examination centres, involving 351 candidates (0.2% of the total). The cases mainly relate to receiving assistance in Science Practical papers, possession of unauthorized materials, and impersonation.
Odongo said the Board is proceeding with the hearing of PLE cases and will commence hearings for UCE cases from 16th March 2026.
First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Maama Jannet Kataha Museveni states that there has been a rapid increase in candidature at the UACE examination level, over the last three years since 2023 when candidates who sat for UACE examination were 109,486 to 140,888 in 2024 and now to 1,402,434 Candidates in 2025.
She said the 2025 UACE Examination Results report indicates rise in entries for sciences and Mathematics subjects upon which the minister of Education and sports also the first lady Maama Jannet Kataha Museveni rallied the education sector stakeholders to further harness to expedite the National industrial development ambitions.
She explained that the 2025 UACE Examination Results report further highlights the increase in number of candidates who qualified for university placements by 21,000 more compared to 2024.
The Minister of Education and Sports – First lady Maama Jannet Kataha Museveni assured candidates of sufficient places in tertiary institutions, both public and private, to absorb these learners.
The first lady Maama Jannet Kataha Museveni has rallied learners and the young people at large to appreciate the opportunities available in technical and vocational institutions adding that Products of these institutions are readily taken up by industries or are able to create jobs by themselves and she has encouraged them to consider that career path due to its visible rewards.
According to UNEB officials, the performance of candidates has shown notable improvements in Mathematics, Chemistry, Agriculture, Geography, and Economics.
Other subjects with improvements include Biology and Literature in English.However, significant declines in performance were observed in Entrepreneurship Education, Christian Religious Education, Fine Art, and Physics.
Overall, grades in Science subjects have improved markedly compared to the Humanities.In the Humanities, challenges persist, primarily due to poor interpretation of questions stemming from misunderstanding key concepts required for the expected responses
