education 17 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
84% of TVET Candidates Achieve Full Competence in 2026 Exams
The Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board (UVTAB) reported that 84.4% of candidates attained full competence in the May/June 2026 examinations, marking an increase from the previous year. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/84-per-cent-of-tvet-candidates-attain-full-competence-uvtab-5598492
The Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board (UVTAB) has announced encouraging results for the May/June 2026 examinations, with 84.4 percent of candidates achieving full competence. This represents a significant improvement from 2025, when the pass rate stood at 81 percent.
A total of 17,038 candidates sat for the assessment at both diploma and certificate levels, with 14,382 successfully meeting the competence standards. Among these successful candidates, 6,268 were female and 8,114 were male. The majority of candidates, 10,641, pursued National Diploma programs, while 4,875 were enrolled in National Certificate programs.
UVTAB Executive Secretary Onesmus Oyesigye stated that 2,656 candidates acquired partial competence and are eligible to retake the assessment. He also noted a substantial 61 percent increase in candidate registration from 2025 to 2026, with 17,262 candidates registering for the May/June assessment.
The assessment covered fields including Technology, Business, Home Science, and Agriculture Education and Training. Technology saw the highest male participation, while Business and Home Science programs were predominantly undertaken by female students. The Board Chairperson, Associate Professor Dorothy Okello, highlighted a steady rise in female enrollment and performance, emphasizing TVET as a pathway to opportunities for all Ugandans.
UVTAB has also operationalized guidelines for assessing candidates with special needs and refugees, with 60 such candidates registering for the recent assessment. The Board has also been active in reviewing training packages and curricula to align with a competence-based approach.
Acting Education Minister Dr. John Chrysostom Muyingo reiterated the government’s commitment to skilling Ugandans through TVET and mentioned the gazetting of new regulations to strengthen governance within the sector.