The Ministry of Education and Sports has issued a new directive prohibiting schools from publicly displaying individual students’ results from the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB).
In a circular dated May 7, Dr. Kedrace Turyagyenda, the Permanent Secretary, instructed all school heads to stop sharing students’ examination outcomes—including scores, photos, or result slips—on platforms such as billboards, social media, and other public spaces. The ministry cited privacy concerns and emphasized that this practice violates the Data Protection and Privacy Act of 2019.
“The Ministry has noted, with concern, the persistent trend of schools publishing individual learner results on public platforms,” Dr. Turyagyenda stated. “This practice infringes upon learners’ right to privacy and contradicts legal protections of their personal information.”
She further explained that these actions expose learners and their families to unnecessary emotional distress, societal pressure, and the risk of being stigmatized or harassed.
To ensure compliance, the Ministry instructed schools to discontinue any promotional use of examination results, such as advertising high-performing students or showcasing their grades publicly. Instead, institutions were advised to focus on promoting their overall educational environment, including achievements in co-curricular activities, community engagement, and academic development.
Schools have also been reminded to handle the dissemination of results in a confidential and secure manner, either by providing sealed envelopes directly to students and guardians or through verified digital channels. Public notice boards, WhatsApp groups, or social media updates are no longer acceptable modes of result publication.
This move is part of the Ministry’s broader initiative to safeguard student welfare and enforce respect for their personal data in accordance with national legislation.