Education
15 days to deadline: UNEB registers over 1.4 million candidates for exams
UNEB spokesperson Jennifer Kalule-Musamba said PLE accounts for the largest share, with 844,341 candidates registered so far. Of these, 444,133 (52.6%) are female, while 400,208 (47.4%) are male.
Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) spokesperson Jennifer Kalule-Musamba. (File photo)
By: Michael Odeng, Journalist @New Vision
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With 15 days remaining before the closure of normal registration, the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has announced that more than 1.4 million candidates have so far registered for the 2026 national examinations.
According to a statement issued by UNEB's communications unit on Monday, June 15, 2026, the provisional candidature for the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE), Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) stands at 1,404,169 candidates.
UNEB spokesperson Jennifer Kalule-Musamba said PLE accounts for the largest share, with 844,341 candidates registered so far. Of these, 444,133 (52.6%) are female, while 400,208 (47.4%) are male.
She noted that 539,954 candidates, representing 64% of the PLE candidature, are sponsored under the government's Universal Primary Education (UPE) programme, while 304,387 (36%) are privately sponsored.
At the UCE level, provisional registration stands at 401,509 candidates. Of these, 213,421 (53.2%) are female, while 188,088 (46.8%) are male. Of the total registered candidates, 152,043 (38%) are sponsored under the Universal Secondary Education (USE) programme, while 249,466 (62%) are privately funded.
For UACE, UNEB has so far registered 157,319 candidates, including 76,383 females (48.6%) and 80,936 males (51.4%). Government-sponsored candidates under the Uganda Post O'Level Education and Training (UPOLET) programme total 57,933 (37%), while 99,386 (63%) are privately sponsored.
Examination centres
UNEB also reported significant progress in the submission of registration data by examination centres.
According to Kalule-Musamba, 91.5% of PLE centres have already submitted candidate registration information, compared to 76.6% of UCE centres and 69% of UACE centres.
At the UCE level, provisional registration stands at 401,509 candidates. Of these, 213,421 (53.2%) are female, while 188,088 (46.8%) are male. Of the total registered candidates, 152,043 (38%) are sponsored under the Universal Secondary Education (USE) programme, while 249,466 (62%) are privately funded.
For UACE, UNEB has so far registered 157,319 candidates, including 76,383 females (48.6%) and 80,936 males (51.4%). Government-sponsored candidates under the Uganda Post O'Level Education and Training (UPOLET) programme total 57,933 (37%), while 99,386 (63%) are privately sponsored.
Examination centres
UNEB also reported significant progress in the submission of registration data by examination centres.
According to Kalule-Musamba, 91.5% of PLE centres have already submitted candidate registration information, compared to 76.6% of UCE centres and 69% of UACE centres.
She said a total of 23,421 examination centres are expected to register candidates this year, comprising 15,999 PLE centres, 4,436 UCE centres and 2,986 UACE centres.
Registration deadline and penalties
Kalule-Musamba said normal registration of candidates will continue until June 30, 2026.
She warned that candidates who miss the deadline will have an opportunity to register during the late registration period in July, but at an additional cost. Late registration attracts a surcharge of 100% for PLE candidates and 50% for UCE and UACE candidates.
“Late registration shall end on July 31, 2026. Thereafter, there will be no more registration for 2026 candidates,” Kalule-Musamba said.
UNEB has advised heads of centres, particularly those handling government-sponsored candidates, to ensure all eligible learners are registered before the close of the normal registration period.
Other head teachers have also been encouraged to register all prospective candidates to avoid leaving any learner out of the examination process.
Registration fees maintained
The examination body announced that registration fees for 2026 have been maintained at sh34,000 for PLE, sh164,000 for UCE and sh186,000 for UACE.
UNEB, however, warned schools against levying additional charges and presenting them as “UNEB fees”.
The board cited Section 33 of the UNEB Act, Cap 259, which makes it an offence to charge fees not prescribed by UNEB and present them as official examination fees.
UNEB cautioned heads of centres and school directors against labelling any other administrative charges as UNEB fees.
Candidate biodata
The examinations body further emphasised the importance of verifying candidate information during registration.
The board said candidates, parents and heads of centres should share responsibility for ensuring that all registration details are accurate. Candidates are required to confirm the correctness of their biodata and append their signatures as proof of verification.
The information to be verified includes the spelling and order of names as they appear on birth certificates, dates of birth in the prescribed format (day/month/year), gender details, photographs and, for UCE and UACE candidates, the subjects registered.
UNEB added that corrections to candidate data can still be made free of charge through the registration portal until the end of July.
Registration deadline and penalties
Kalule-Musamba said normal registration of candidates will continue until June 30, 2026.
She warned that candidates who miss the deadline will have an opportunity to register during the late registration period in July, but at an additional cost. Late registration attracts a surcharge of 100% for PLE candidates and 50% for UCE and UACE candidates.
“Late registration shall end on July 31, 2026. Thereafter, there will be no more registration for 2026 candidates,” Kalule-Musamba said.
UNEB has advised heads of centres, particularly those handling government-sponsored candidates, to ensure all eligible learners are registered before the close of the normal registration period.
Other head teachers have also been encouraged to register all prospective candidates to avoid leaving any learner out of the examination process.
Registration fees maintained
The examination body announced that registration fees for 2026 have been maintained at sh34,000 for PLE, sh164,000 for UCE and sh186,000 for UACE.
UNEB, however, warned schools against levying additional charges and presenting them as “UNEB fees”.
The board cited Section 33 of the UNEB Act, Cap 259, which makes it an offence to charge fees not prescribed by UNEB and present them as official examination fees.
UNEB cautioned heads of centres and school directors against labelling any other administrative charges as UNEB fees.
Candidate biodata
The examinations body further emphasised the importance of verifying candidate information during registration.
The board said candidates, parents and heads of centres should share responsibility for ensuring that all registration details are accurate. Candidates are required to confirm the correctness of their biodata and append their signatures as proof of verification.
The information to be verified includes the spelling and order of names as they appear on birth certificates, dates of birth in the prescribed format (day/month/year), gender details, photographs and, for UCE and UACE candidates, the subjects registered.
UNEB added that corrections to candidate data can still be made free of charge through the registration portal until the end of July.