Over 428,000 candidates pass 2025 UCE exams

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Over 400,000 candidates who sat the final national examinations in 2025 passed, according to the just-released results by the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB).

The Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) 2025 exam results also indicate that more candidates passed compared to 2024.

Presenting results at State House Nakasero in Kampala city on Friday, February 13, 2026, UNEB executive director Dan Odongo, disclosed that a total of 428,628 (99.69%) out of the 429,949 candidates who turned up to write their exams at 3,975 examination centres across the country had attained the required scores or Result 1 to qualify for the UCE certificate.

According to Odongo, the results represent an improvement from 350,146 (98.1%) registered in 2024.

More qualify for the certificate

“The percentage of candidates that do not qualify for the UCE certificate has also dropped very significantly from 1.9% to only 0.31%. This will be shown on their Transcripts as Result 2 or 3. Result 2 indicates that a candidate did not fulfil all the conditions of the award; e.g., has no project score, has sat for fewer subjects, among others. Result 3 is for a candidate who has scored below basic (i.e. E) in all the subjects,” Odongo said.

Odongo reported that a total of 432,163 candidates from 3,975 examination centres registered for the UCE 2025 examination, compared to 359,417 candidates in 2024, an increase of 72,746 (20.2%).

He reported that of these, 204,292 (47.3%) were males, while 227,871 (52.7%) were females.

According to UNEB, 154,642 (35.8%) were beneficiaries of the USE (Universal Secondary Education) programme and 277,521 (64.2%) were non-USE.

UNEB indicated that 429,949 (99.5%) candidates were present for the examination in 2025 compared to 357,120 in 2024. Only 2,214 (0.5%) were absent, just like in 2024, showing that the rate of absenteeism continued to drop.

Understanding the scores

The format of reporting performance has since changed in line with the lower secondary Competency-Based Curriculum.

It is indicated by achievement levels with A’ representing exceptional, where a learner demonstrates an extraordinary level of competency by applying innovatively and creatively the acquired knowledge and skills in real-life situations.

Score B’ represents an outstanding demonstration of a high level of competency by applying the acquired knowledge and skills in real-life situations.

The C’ score is a satisfactory demonstration of an adequate level of competency by applying the acquired knowledge and skills in real-life situations.

The D’ score is for a basic demonstration of a minimum level of competency in applying the acquired knowledge and skills in real-life situations. While the E score is an elementary demonstration below the basic level of competency in applying the acquired knowledge and skills in real-life situations.