education 11 October 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Island School Faces Exam Chaos Due to Fuel Shortage
Nekemiya Memorial Seed School on Buvuma Island is struggling to transport Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examination papers due to a severe fuel shortage, jeopardizing the exams for its 15 candidates. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/nekemiya-memorial-seed-school-faces-transport-uncertainty-as-uce-exams-start-5628288
As Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations commence, Nekemiya Memorial Seed School, located on Buvuma Island in Kalangala District, is facing a critical logistical challenge. The school requires 580 litres of petrol, estimated at Shs4.6 million, to ferry examination papers from the police headquarters in Kalangala Town Council, a distance of approximately 10 kilometers.
Headmistress Rose Nalugemwa stated that the school currently possesses only 100 litres of fuel, creating a deficit of 480 litres. This shortage poses a significant threat to the administration of the UCE exams for the school’s 15 registered candidates. The school is set to host its first-ever UCE examination session on its premises, having previously utilized centres on Buggala Island.
Ms. Nalugemwa attributed the predicament to insufficient government funding and parental reluctance to contribute financially. She explained that some parents believe the government should cover all expenses, while others have been impacted by disruptions to their livelihoods on Lake Victoria. The school needs to make multiple trips daily to collect and distribute papers, straining its limited resources.
This situation highlights the unique challenges faced by schools in island communities, where transportation costs are often higher. While the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) typically arranges for paper storage at accessible locations, Nekemiya Memorial Seed School was not granted this facility, requiring the headmistress to personally collect the papers.
Kalangala District examination supervisor Cathy Kabashoke confirmed the school’s difficulties, noting that government grants are inadequate for such operational costs. Efforts to secure external support have so far been unsuccessful. Local authorities, including Assistant Resident District Commissioner Twahika Kajubi Kironde, are reportedly mobilizing resources to address the fuel shortage and find a lasting solution.
The UCE examinations are set to begin nationwide on Monday, October 12, 2026, with over 50,000 candidates registered.