Daniel Mugula
Mon,9,Nov 2026
The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has warned candidates sitting the 2026 Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) examinations against falling victim to online scammers claiming to have access to examination papers, as more than 203,000 candidates began their final secondary school examinations across the country.
In speaking to journalists on Monday at Police Headquarters in Naguru spokesperson of UNEB Jennifer Kalule Musamba says The warning comes as the Board steps up security measures to prevent examination malpractice, with more than 1,000 scouts and several security and surveillance personnel deployed to oversee the smooth and credible conduct of the examinations.
UNEB cautioned candidates and members of the public against joining social media platforms that solicit money in exchange for purported access to UACE examination papers, describing the operators as scammers.
The Board emphasised that no individual can legitimately access examination papers before candidates at the officially scheduled examination time.
Under Section 25 of the UNEB Act, Cap 259, unauthorised possession of examination papers, materials or information relating to an examination is a criminal offence punishable by a fine of up to 1,000 currency points, imprisonment of up to five years, or both.
Individuals who assist candidates to obtain unauthorised examination papers face stiffer penalties, including a fine of up to 2,000 currency points, equivalent to Shs40 million, imprisonment of up to 10 years, or both.
Teachers convicted of examination malpractice may also face additional disciplinary action under the laws regulating the teaching profession.
Invigilators and scouts have equally been cautioned against negligence, with UNEB warning that those who allow examination malpractice to occur under their supervision risk prosecution under Section 26(1)(g) of the Act. The provision carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment, a fine of Shs20 million, or both.
The Board has also urged members of the public with information about suspected examination malpractice to report it through its toll-free telephone number, 0800-211-077. Informants will be protected under the Board’s Whistleblower Policy and compensated where the information provided is found useful.
The 2026 UACE examinations officially commenced this morning, with science candidates sitting Principal Mathematics Paper One, while their counterparts in the arts stream started with History Paper One.
A total of 203,809 candidates have registered for this year’s examinations from 3,039 examination centres countrywide, representing a 22.4 per cent increase from the 166,400 candidates registered in 2025.
Of the registered candidates, 106,361 (52 per cent) are male, while 97,448 (48 per cent) are female.
Among those sitting the examinations are 41 inmates from Upper Prison Secondary School in Luzira, Kampala, examination centre number U3120. The group comprises 40 males and one female.
In line with its commitment to inclusive assessment, UNEB has also registered 580 candidates with Special Needs Education (SNE), comprising 291 females and 289 males.
The Board has deployed 107 support personnel to assist candidates with special needs. Those who do not require individual support personnel will be granted an additional 45 minutes to complete their examinations.
Blind candidates have been provided with Braille machines, Braille question papers and answer sheets, while others will use modified-print examination papers, large-print materials and transcribers, depending on their individual needs. Candidates with hearing impairments will be assisted by sign language interpreters.
This year’s UACE candidates are also the first cohort to have undergone the Competency-Based Assessment (CBA) model at Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) level in 2024.
Although the UACE curriculum has not been completely overhauled, candidates have been studying under an aligned Competency-Based Curriculum, as guided by the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC). UNEB has consequently adjusted its assessment processes to reflect the curriculum changes.
The examinations are being conducted under the theme, “Advancing Excellence in Assessment and Certification through Secure, Credible, Inclusive, and Innovative Processes.”
UNEB says the theme reflects its commitment to maintaining high standards, strengthening examination security, promoting fairness and ensuring that all candidates sit the same examinations under similar conditions across the country.
The Board has further pledged to ensure that the final results reflect the actual performance of individual candidates.
The security warning follows reported cases of attempted examination malpractice during the recent Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) and Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations.
According to UNEB, 74 suspects were apprehended in connection with attempted malpractice during the PLE examinations, although some of the arrests were preventive. Eleven suspects had been taken to court, with no convictions reported at the time of the Board’s update. Investigations into the remaining cases were still ongoing.
Meanwhile, UNEB has reiterated its position that school administrators should not block duly registered candidates from sitting examinations because of outstanding school fees.
Guided by the Ministry of Education and Sports, the Board has advised heads of examination centres and school directors to allow registered candidates to write their examinations and instead agree with parents and guardians on payment arrangements.
However, UNEB says it will assist schools to recover outstanding fees by withholding the examination results of candidates who have not cleared their dues by the time results are released.
The Board has called on candidates, teachers, examination officials, school administrators and the general public to cooperate in safeguarding the integrity of the 2026 UACE examinations.
