Daniel Mugula
12, 10,2026
The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has warned candidates, teachers and the public against examination malpractice as 503,055 Senior Four students begin the 2026 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations.
UNEB spokesperson Jennifer Kalule Musamba said on Monday at Police Headquarters in Naguru that the examinations started smoothly, with candidates sitting Mathematics Paper One in the morning and scheduled to sit Chemistry papers in the afternoon.
She said the board had successfully delivered examination papers to all centres despite flooding in some parts of the country over the weekend, thanking security personnel for supporting the exercise.
This year’s candidature represents a 16.4 per cent increase compared to 2025, with females accounting for 52.7 per cent and males 47.3 per cent. The candidates are sitting their examinations at 4,514 centres countrywide, marking the fourth cohort under the Competency-Based Curriculum.
Jennifer Kalule Musamba
Of the total candidates, 154,642 are sponsored under the Universal Secondary Education programme, while 315,132 are privately sponsored, according to UNEB.
Musamba said 306 candidates with special needs had registered for the examinations, with the board providing Braille papers, large-print question papers and other support to ensure inclusive assessment.
The board warned candidates and the public against online scammers claiming to sell leaked examination papers through social media platforms.
Musamba revealed that six suspects were remanded by a court in Kampala until October 19 over alleged examination scams. She cautioned the public against joining such groups or attempting to access unauthorised examination materials, even when the papers being advertised are fake.
She said more than 2,000 examination scouts and nearly 600 security personnel had been deployed across the country to monitor the examinations and prevent malpractice.
Under the UNEB Act, anyone found guilty of unlawfully obtaining or sharing examination materials faces a fine of up to Shs40 million, imprisonment for up to 10 years, or both. Teachers, invigilators and scouts who facilitate cheating may also face penalties.
The public has been urged to report suspected examination malpractice to police or through UNEB’s toll-free line, 0800 211 077.
UNEB also cautioned school administrators against denying registered candidates access to examinations because of outstanding school fees.
Musamba said the board had received reports of candidates being prevented from sitting examinations over unpaid balances, adding that the Ministry of Education and Sports was working to resolve some of the cases.
She urged all examination centre heads to allow every registered candidate to sit the examinations, noting that schools could pursue outstanding fees through appropriate channels, including requesting UNEB to temporarily withhold results where applicable.
The board warned that candidates who arrive more than 15 minutes after an examination has started are not permitted to sit the paper under UNEB guidelines, and urged parents and schools to resolve any outstanding issues promptly.
This year’s examination theme is “Advancing Excellence in Assessment and Certification through Secure, Credible, Inclusive, and Innovative Processes.”
