Over 203,000 Candidates Begin UACE Examinations as Government Warns Against Malpractice

A total of 203,809 candidates have begun sitting for the 2026 Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) examinations nationwide. This year’s candidature marks a significant 22.4 percent increase compared to the 166,400 students who registered for the national assessments last year.

Out of the total registered candidates, 106,361 are male, making up 52 percent, while 97,448 are female, accounting for 48 percent. Notably, the candidates include 41 inmates—40 males and one female—from Upper Prison Secondary School in Luzira, Kampala. The examinations are scheduled to run until November 26.

As the papers commenced, government officials and education stakeholders issued strict warnings against examination malpractice, emphasizing that fraudulent practices threaten the credibility of academic credentials. Mr. Timothy Ssejjoba, the Commissioner for Higher Education, pointed out that some private schools resort to cheating to secure high grades as a marketing strategy to attract more students.

Mr. Ssejjoba urged educators and parents to embrace the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) ideals. He stressed that the educational focus should center on critical thinking, problem-solving, and practical skill acquisition rather than mere memorization and grade chasing.

Meanwhile, Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) spokesperson Jennifer Kalule noted that while the advanced-level curriculum has not undergone a complete overhaul, the current assessments have been aligned with the new competency-based approach. The 2026 UACE cohort is notably the first group to have progressed through lower secondary education under the Competency-Based Curriculum.

UNEB has called upon the general public to report any suspected cases of cheating, following recent arrests of teachers, school directors, and invigilators during the Primary Leaving Examinations. Read the full story on the Daily Monitor.