99,672 candidates begin UNEB exams

A total of 99,672 candidates have been registered to sit for the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) examinations which start Monday.

According to a press statement issued by the executive secretary of Uganda Examinations Board (UNEB) Dan Odongo said on Sunday, 58,359 of the candidates are male while the remaining 41,313 are female candidates.

Perhaps indicating an increase in the dropout rate, the 99,672 registered candidates for 2018 are less than the 102,007 who were registered to sit for the same exams last year (2017). The number of candidates registered for UACE this year reduced by 2,335.

Of the registered candidates for 2018, the Government-sponsored candidates are 18,550 (including 12,577 males and 5,973 females), while private candidates are 81,122 (including 45,782 males and 35,340 females).

The examination body revealed that distribution of the examination materials under adequate escort of police started last Saturday (November 10, 2018) to ensure all the 2,217 examination centres get the exams in time.

Over 800 scouts and security personnel from all security agencies have been deployed to oversee the examination process.

"We still warn schools against involvement in acts of malpractice in the examination; and to guard against people who, during examination time, sell what they purport to be examination questions. Such persons should be apprehended and handed over to the Police," Odongo stated.