Special needs candidates receive extra time, support in PLE
Twenty pupils with special needs sat for their PLE papers at the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) centre located at St. Padre-Pio Primary School in Kabulamuliro, off Entebbe Road.
Special-needs candidates received support through provisions such as Braille and large-print question papers, sign-language interpretation, and transcription services. (Photo by Juliet Anna Lukwago)
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As Primary Seven candidates across the country began their Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) on Tuesday, November 3, several candidates with disabilities received assistance to take their exams.
Twenty pupils with special needs sat for their PLE papers at the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) centre located at St. Padre-Pio Primary School in Kabulamuliro, off Entebbe Road.
Although the examinations were delivered to the centre at 8:15 am, the exam writing started a bit late at 10:08 am due to rain.
Invigilators and scouts check candidates before entering an examination room at St Padre-Pio Primary School, Kabulamuliro, off Entebbe Road. (Photo by Juliet Anna Lukwago)
Some of these schools include Twinkle Light Primary School in Kawuku, Midroad Community School in Kajjansi, St. Jude Primary School in Namulanda, Victory Primary School in Lugoba, and Cuties Junior School in Namulanda.
The UNEB Chief Invigilator, Robert Mugisha, stated that UNEB and the school authorities arranged for dedicated support staff, including transcribers, sign language interpreters, and readers, to assist learners with visual, hearing, physical, or developmental challenges.
Special needs candidates
According to the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB), arrangements were made for 4,655 candidates with special needs, consisting of 2,352 boys and 2,303 girls.
A P.7 candidate with special needs being assisted during the examination. (Photo by Juliet Anna Lukwago)
Additionally, special needs candidates will be granted an extra 45 minutes for each examination paper. UNEB has also deployed 1,544 personnel to assist these candidates during the examinations.
To enhance supervision, the board has assigned 162 district monitors and 13,738 scouts, in conjunction with security personnel, to oversee the examination process.
This year’s Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) includes 920,833 registered candidates, reflecting a 12.5% increase from the 817,885 candidates who registered for the PLE examinations in 2025.
The candidates are taking their exams at 16,478 examination centres throughout the country.
The PLE commenced on Tuesday and will conclude on Wednesday, November 4. The candidates began with Mathematics, followed by Social Studies and Religious Education in the afternoon. They will complete their examinations with Integrated Science and English on Wednesday.