education 13 March 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
UACE 2025 Results: Record Candidate Surge with Gains in Pass Rates, Science Uptake but Entrepreneurship Lags
The 2025 UACE exams saw a 17.2% jump in candidates to 166,400, boosting university qualifiers to 68.6%, alongside rising science subject entries, though entrepreneurship posted the poorest performance with under 50% principal passes. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/uace-2025-candidate-numbers-surge-as-entrepreneurship-records-weakest-performance-5389756
The Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb) released the 2025 Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) results on March 13, 2026, at State Lodge Nakasero in Kampala, with First Lady and Education Minister Janet Museveni officiating.
Candidate numbers climbed sharply to 166,400 registered, a 17.2% rise from 141,996 in 2024, while 165,172 actually sat the exams held from November 10 to December 5. Males made up 56.2% of participants, perpetuating the gender imbalance, and exam centers increased to 2,452.
Performance advanced notably, with 98.9% (163,171 candidates) earning the minimum UACE certificate pass. University entry qualifications—two principal passes—reached 68.6% (113,291 candidates), up from 65.5% last year. For diplomas needing one principal and two subsidiaries, 87.9% qualified.
Minister Museveni highlighted ample tertiary spots but urged awareness of vocational options, noting universities may require 21,018 more slots.
Science subjects gained traction: Mathematics entries hit 70,132 (up from 58,495), Chemistry 37,134, Biology 35,660, though Physics dipped slightly to 21,302. Principal passes improved in key areas like Economics, Geography, Literature, Mathematics, Agriculture, Chemistry, and Biology. She stressed STEM’s role in industrial growth.
Entrepreneurship Education fared worst, with fewer than half securing principal passes—the sole subject below 50%. General Paper, sat by 165,154, saw top A grades drop to 4.9% from 8.0%.
Subsidiary subjects remained popular, including 128,719 in ICT and 36,391 in Mathematics. UPOLET program participants rose slightly to 25.4% (42,327 candidates).
Analysts warn of mounting pressure on higher education, but Museveni emphasized education’s focus on creativity and problem-solving.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)