The 2025 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations have delivered spectacular results, with almost 99 percent of students qualifying for their certificates, showcasing a massive leap in participation and performance across the country. A total of 432,163 candidates registered for the exams at 3,975 centres, a jump of 72,746 students (20.2%) from last year. Among […]
The 2025 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations have delivered spectacular results, with almost 99 percent of students qualifying for their certificates, showcasing a massive leap in participation and performance across the country.
A total of 432,163 candidates registered for the exams at 3,975 centres, a jump of 72,746 students (20.2%) from last year. Among them, 204,292 were boys (47.3%), and 227,871 were girls (52.7%), reflecting steady female participation. USE schools contributed 154,642 candidates (35.8%), while non-USE schools provided 277,521 (64.2%). Attendance was nearly perfect, with 429,949 candidates sitting for the exams, leaving only 2,214 absent (0.5%).
Performance analysis revealed gender-based trends across subjects. Male candidates outperformed girls in subjects such as Geography, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Agriculture, History, and Political Education. Meanwhile, girls excelled in English Language and Christian Religious Education (CRE).
Top-grade performances included: Geography Grade A: Boys 8%, Girls 3.1%, Mathematics Grade A: Boys 1.9%, Girls 1.1%, Physics Grade A: Boys 1%, Girls 0.6%, Chemistry Grade A: Boys 0.9%, Girls 0.8%
UNEB Executive Director Dan Odongo explained, “Subjects requiring analytical, numerical, or experimental skills seem to favour boys, while girls perform exceptionally in comprehension, interpretation, and language-based subjects.”
Despite the differences, overall performance was impressive. The percentage of candidates failing to qualify for certificates fell from 1.9% in 2024 to just 0.31% in 2025, proving that the Competency-Based Curriculum is helping learners achieve better outcomes.
Examination integrity remained intact, with only 63 cases of malpractice reported, mostly in Mathematics and practical Science papers. UNEB investigators found that in these cases, teachers had provided experimental results for candidates to copy, instead of letting them conduct their investigations, clearly identifying these as cases of cheating.
Among 708 SNE candidates, including 342 boys and 366 girls, 695 (98.2%) passed, and only 9 (1.8%) failed. Candidates included blind, low vision, deaf, dyslexic, physically handicapped, and other students with medical or circumstantial challenges. UNEB ensured fairness through Braille papers, enlarged print, sign language interpreters, additional support staff, and extra time per paper.
Inmates at Uganda’s prison schools also excelled. At Luzira Upper Prison School, all 39 candidates passed, and at Mbarara Main Prison, all 12 students passed, receiving UCE certificates.
A UNEB survey of 36,546 candidates from 118 districts indicated that 96.3% found questions within the syllabus, 74.7% were satisfied with exam timing, and 88.2% found questions clear. 4.7% considered the exam easy, 66.4% fair, and 28.8% difficult, showing that exams were challenging but manageable.
Education Minister Janet Museveni praised UNEB for researching the effects of the CBC, noting that interviews with teachers, headteachers, and learners from 171 schools confirmed the curriculum is improving critical thinking, problem-solving, and practical application skills. She described the results as “exciting and encouraging, particularly in science subjects, where more students are achieving higher grades than before.”
