Uganda has registered a significant improvement in performance in the 2025 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations, with at least 99.6% of candidates passing.
The results were released today at State House, Nakasero, by First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni.
The pass rate marks an increase from 98.05% recorded in 2024, signalling continued progress under the new competency-based curriculum.
A total of 432,159 candidates sat the examinations at 4,308 centres nationwide, reflecting a 12.1% rise from last year’s 357,120 candidates — a notable growth in enrolment.
Of the total candidates, 52.7% were girls while 47.3% were boys. Meanwhile, 154,637 learners were beneficiaries of the Universal Secondary Education (USE) programme.
According to the results, 429,949 candidates qualified, surpassing the 350,146 who passed in 2024.
Under the revised curriculum framework, candidates who meet the required standards are awarded the UCE certificate (Result 1). Those who fall short receive Result 2 or Result 3, depending on whether they missed subjects, lacked project scores, or did not attain the minimum competency level.
Notably, the proportion of candidates who did not qualify for the certificate dropped sharply from 1.9% in 2024 to just 0.31% in 2025 — further underscoring the overall improvement in performance across the country.
UCE Grading system
The Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) now operates under a Competency-Based Curriculum, with student performance assessed using letter grades ranging from A to E.
Each grade reflects a learner’s ability to apply knowledge and skills in real-life contexts:
A (Exceptional): Demonstrates extraordinary skills and applies them creatively and independently.
B (Outstanding): Shows a high level of competency and strong application in practical situations.
C (Satisfactory): Exhibits adequate competency and a sound understanding of concepts.
D (Basic): Demonstrates minimum acceptable competency.
E (Elementary): Falls below the basic competency level.
Grades are derived from a combination of 20% Continuous Assessment conducted at school and 80% End-of-Cycle Examination scores.
To ensure fairness, consistency, and accuracy, results are processed using established statistical and psychometric methods.
Certification Requirements: A candidate must obtain at least a Grade D to qualify for the UCE certificate.
Result Indicators:
Result 1: Qualified for the certificate.
Result 2: Did not complete compulsory subjects or required projects.
Result 3: Scored Grade E in all subjects.
The competency-based system shifts the focus from merely passing examinations to demonstrating practical understanding and real-world application of knowledge, enabling clearer identification of learners’ strengths and areas that require improvement.
