UNEB Records Historic 6.8% Rise in 2025 Exam Candidates as Registration Closes
UNEB Records Historic 6.8% Rise in 2025 Exam Candidates as Registration Closes
The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has registered a significant milestone, confirming a 6.8% surge in candidate numbers for the 2025 national examinations—marking the highest in the country’s history.
In an official statement, UNEB Executive Director Dr. Dan Odongo announced the closure of all digital school portals, signaling the end of the registration period for this year’s Primary Leaving Examination (PLE), Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE), and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE).
The board revealed that 1,415,857 learners have been successfully registered for the 2025 national exams—a sharp rise from the 1,319,139 recorded in 2024.
The increase is being viewed as a strong indicator of sectoral resilience, following years of disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic pressures.
According to UNEB, this growth reflects renewed confidence and recovery within Uganda’s education system, which has struggled with enrollment setbacks, dropout spikes, and funding constraints in recent years.
Dr. Odongo applauded the role played by schools and examination centers in maintaining timelines and ensuring a streamlined process.
“UNEB will no longer receive registration data for this year’s candidates after the portals are closed,” the statement read.
“Heads of centres are advised to ensure that no learner supposed to sit for this year’s examinations is left out.”
In a bid to further streamline examination administration, UNEB plans to roll out a new SMS-based verification system, allowing students and schools to remotely confirm registration status and rectify any issues well before exam day.
The digital tool is expected to significantly reduce late-stage registration errors and prevent disenfranchisement of eligible candidates.
UNEB has indicated that instructions for accessing and using the SMS system will be communicated shortly to both schools and the public.
With the registration phase complete, UNEB is now shifting attention toward exam material preparation and logistical planning for what is projected to be Uganda’s largest national assessment exercise to date.
The 6.8% rise in registered candidates reflects not just growing enrollment, but perhaps more importantly, a collective national effort to restore learning continuity and academic progression.
And as the country inches closer to the exam period, UNEB’s new measures and record-breaking candidate numbers signal an ambitious push toward equity, efficiency, and inclusiveness in Uganda’s education landscape.
