The 2025 Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) examinations have officially kicked off today, Monday, November 10, with more than 166,000 Senior Six candidates across the country sitting their first papers.
Statistics from the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) show that 166,402 candidates have registered for the final secondary school examinations, marking a significant 14.6% rise from last year’s 141,996 candidates.
The exams are being conducted in 2,844 centers nationwide. Of the total number, 42,328 candidates (25%) are beneficiaries of the government’s Universal Post-O-Level Education and Training (UPOLET) program, while 124,074 (75%) are privately sponsored.
The gender distribution shows that 77,772 candidates (44%) are female and 93,630 (56%) are male.
Candidates were officially briefed at their schools on Friday, November 7, ahead of the start of the examinations.
This year’s UACE papers are being conducted under the theme “Embracing Security and Holistic Assessment of Learners in a Dynamic Environment.”
While launching the exams, UNEB Executive Director Dan Odongo urged candidates to maintain honesty throughout the process, warning that those involved in malpractice will face severe consequences.
He revealed that 55 people were arrested during the recently concluded PLE and UCE exams over malpractice.
“Examination malpractice is a criminal offense punishable by up to five years in prison or a fine of UGX 20 million, or both,” Odongo cautioned.
The UACE examinations will run until Friday, December 5, 2025, concluding Uganda’s 2025 national examination calendar.