KAMPALA.
More candidates have registered to sit national examinations this year compared to the 2024 cohort , according to the latest figures released by the Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb).
A circular issued on July 3 by the Uneb Principal Public Relations Officer, Ms Jennifer Kalule Musamba, shows that 1,412,248 candidates have so far registered for the three sets of national examinations.
“Following the end of the first phase of late registration on June 30, provisional registration figures indicate that the total candidature stands at 1.4 million for all three levels,” Ms Kalule said. This marks a rise from last year’s total of 1,308,998 candidates, reflecting an increase of 103,250 candidates (7.3 percent).
Of those registered, 719,721 (51 percent) are under government sponsorship through Universal Primary Education (UPE), Universal Secondary Education (USE), and the Uganda Post O-Level Education and Training Programme (UPOLET). Ms Kalule said registration remains open until the end of July, but this period attracts a surcharge. “We encourage heads of centres to ensure all prospective learners are registered so that no one is left out.
Amendments can still be made free of charge until the end of July and submitted on the portal,” she said. She further urged heads of UCE centres to compile and submit Continuous Assessment scores for both S3 and S4 learners by the end of Term II. When asked about the increase in candidates, Ms Kalule said: “It is a seven percent increment, so the numbers are within a normal percentage.”
Late registration surcharge
Uneb introduced a surcharge policy to discourage late registration and promote timely compliance with deadlines. A surcharge—ranging from 50 percent to 100 percent of the original registration fee—is imposed on schools or private candidates registering after the official period.
Institutions that consistently fail to meet deadlines also risk losing recognition as Uneb centres. Although the original registration deadline was set for May 31, it was extended to June 30. During this window, candidates paid Shs34,000 for PLE, Shs164,000 for UCE, and Shs186,000 for UACE.
Candidates registering between now and the end of July will incur a 50 to 100 percent surcharge on these fees. Uneb warned that no entries will be accepted after this period.
Exam schedule
The first set of examinations, UCE, is scheduled to commence in October, while PLE and UACE will be conducted in November, in line with the schools’ calendar.