The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has confirmed a smooth start to the 2025 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations, with candidates across the country sitting for Geography Paper 1 today under strict security and close supervision.
According to UNEB Executive Director Dan Odongo, all examination materials were successfully delivered to centres on time and no major disruptions have been reported. “All is set, and there are no indications of disruptions,” Odongo assured while briefing the Minister of State for Higher Education, Dr. John Chrysestom Muyingo, who visited UNEB headquarters to assess the board’s readiness.
The Minister commended teachers and examination supervisors for their professionalism and commitment during the examination period. “We thank our teachers for turning up in large numbers to supervise the exams as per the reports received,” he said.
This year’s examinations, conducted under the theme “Embracing Security and Holistic Assessment of Learners in a Dynamic Environment,” officially began on October 10 with the briefing of candidates by their headteachers.
A total of 432,159 candidates are sitting for the UCE examinations from 4,308 centres nationwide. Of these, 52.7 percent are female while 47.3 percent are male, reflecting continued progress in gender parity in secondary education.
UNEB also reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive education, noting that 6,779 candidates with special needs are sitting for the exams with customized support. These include 28 blind, 60 deaf, 113 with low vision, and 73 with severe physical handicaps.
To ensure fairness, UNEB has provided Braille answer sheets for the blind, large-print question papers for candidates with low vision, sign language interpreters for the deaf, and transcribers for learners with reading or writing difficulties. The board has also deployed 190 specialized personnel to assist special-needs candidates throughout the examination period.
UNEB appealed to schools, parents, invigilators, and security agencies to maintain vigilance and integrity during the examination process. “We urge all stakeholders to uphold the sanctity of the examinations to ensure results reflect each learner’s true performance,” the board stated.
The UCE examinations, which mark a critical stage in Uganda’s education cycle, will continue smoothly through the end of October, setting the pace for subsequent national exams.
