60-year-old Namisindwa councillor sitting UACE Exams
"I decided to go back to school because I believe education has no age limit. As long as someone is alive and willing to learn, there is always an opportunity to improve themselves. I want to be an example to young people and encourage those who abandoned school to return and pursue their dreams," Nabululu said.
Speaking about his decision to return to the classroom at an advanced age, Nabululu said he believes education is a lifelong journey that should not be limited by age. (Credit: Ivan Tsebeni)
NAMISINDWA - A 60-year-old district councillor in Namisindwa District, John Nabululu Wekoye, is among candidates who are sitting the 2026 Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) examinations starting today (November 9), demonstrating that age is no barrier to pursuing education.
Nabululu, who represents the people of Luwa Town Council at the Namisindwa District Council, is sitting his A-Level examinations at Riverside Christian Comprehensive Secondary School in Namisindwa's Bupoto Sub-county.
The school has registered 56 candidates for this year's UACE examinations, including Nabululu
Despite his responsibilities as a political leader, education promoter, pastor and family man, Nabululu has remained determined to continue with his academic journey.
He previously sat his Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations in 2024, then aged 58, before progressing to A-Level. His remarkable educational journey attracted national attention, with New Vision newspaper also reporting on him.
Speaking about his decision to return to the classroom at an advanced age, Nabululu said he believes education is a lifelong journey that should not be limited by age.
"I decided to go back to school because I believe education has no age limit. As long as someone is alive and willing to learn, there is always an opportunity to improve themselves. I want to be an example to young people and encourage those who abandoned school to return and pursue their dreams," Nabululu said.
Beyond his political responsibilities, Nabululu is the proprietor of Busulwa Infant School and a pastor at Hope and Grace International.
Nabululu's participation in the examinations has attracted admiration from fellow candidates, teachers and members of the community, particularly those who consider his determination an inspiration to people who wish to return to school later in life.
The director of Riverside Christian Comprehensive Secondary School, Alosious Kongo Kiruyi, described Nabululu as a committed student who has demonstrated determination throughout his studies.
Kiruyi said the school was proud to have him among its candidates, adding that his commitment and discipline give the administration confidence in his performance.
"Nabululu has been very committed to his studies. He has shown determination and a positive attitude towards learning despite his age and other responsibilities. We believe he will perform well in these examinations," Kiruyi said.
He added that Nabululu's journey sends a strong message to the community that education should be embraced at every stage of life.
Statistics
Nabululu joins 203,809 candidates across the country who are beginning their Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) written examinations on Monday, November 9, 2026.
Of the candidates, 106,361 are male, representing 52 per cent, while 97,448 are female, accounting for 48 per cent
The examinations are expected to be conducted at 2,986 UACE examination centres countrywide, according to UNEB's earlier 2026 registration projections.
The examinations will run until December 5, 2026.
The UACE examinations come after the successful completion of the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) and Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE), making A-Level the final national examination exercise on this year's UNEB calendar.
The 2026 national examination cycle registered a total of 1,627,885 candidates across the three levels, representing a 14.9 per cent increase from the 1,416,448 candidates registered in 2025.
PLE registered 920,796 candidates, while UCE had 503,214 candidates.
UNEB has attributed the increase in candidature to improved completion rates, with more learners staying in school and progressing to higher levels of education.
For Nabululu, however, the examinations represent another milestone in a journey driven by determination, personal growth and a desire to inspire others.
His story is a reminder that the pursuit of knowledge has no age limit.