More than 920,000 pupils across Uganda today began their Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE), with the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) warning candidates, teachers and examination officials against malpractice as authorities tighten supervision of the national assessment exercise.
The two-day examinations, which started on Tuesday, November 3, will determine the next academic stage for thousands of pupils completing primary education, with candidates expected to sit Mathematics in the morning before proceeding to Social Studies and Religious Education in the afternoon.
The examinations will conclude tomorrow, November 4, with Integrated Science in the morning and English Language in the afternoon.
According to UNEB, a total of 920,833 candidates have registered for this year’s PLE, representing a 12.5 per cent increase from the 817,885 candidates registered in 2025.
The candidates will sit their examinations at 16,478 centres across the country.
Female candidates account for 484,620, representing 52.7 per cent of the total candidature, while their male counterparts number 436,213, equivalent to 47.3 per cent.
The figures continue a trend in which girls have outnumbered boys among candidates sitting the national primary examinations.
Of the registered candidates, 576,342, representing 62.5 per cent, are enrolled under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) programme, while 344,491 candidates, or 37.5 per cent, are privately sponsored.
The increase in candidature comes amid efforts to improve school completion rates and ensure that more learners progress through the education system.
UNEB Executive Director Dan Odongo has previously attributed the growing numbers of candidates across the national examination levels to improved retention, with more learners staying in school and completing their respective education cycles.
UNEB warns against malpractice
As the examinations get underway, UNEB has warned teachers, school administrators, invigilators, scouts and candidates against engaging in examination malpractice.
The board has particularly cautioned schools against conducting additional coaching sessions after candidates were officially briefed on October 30.
UNEB Principal Public Relations Officer Jennifer Kalule Musamba said the briefing marked the beginning of the examination period, during which teaching and coaching of candidates, whether within or outside school premises, were prohibited.
The warning followed reports that some examination centres were planning to conduct additional coaching sessions after the official briefing.
Under the UNEB Act, individuals convicted of examination malpractice risk a fine of up to Shs40 million, imprisonment for up to 10 years, or both.
The prohibited practices include examination paper leakage, impersonation, copying, collusion, unauthorised assistance and possession of prohibited materials.
Invigilators and examination scouts who negligently allow malpractice to occur also risk prosecution, with penalties of up to Shs20 million or five years in prison, or both.
Members of the public have been encouraged to report suspected examination malpractice through UNEB’s toll-free line, 0800-211-077.
Special arrangements for learners
UNEB has also made special arrangements for 4,655 candidates with special educational needs to ensure they participate in the examinations.
The group comprises 2,352 boys and 2,303 girls.
The board has provided for Braille and large-print examination papers, sign language interpreters and transcribers, depending on individual candidates’ needs.
These candidates will also receive an additional 45 minutes for each examination paper.
A total of 1,544 personnel have been deployed to support candidates with special educational needs during the exercise.
To strengthen supervision, UNEB has deployed 162 district monitors and 13,738 scouts, alongside security personnel and other officials responsible for ensuring the examinations are conducted in accordance with established guidelines.
Candidates have been instructed to report to their examination centres by 8:30am for morning papers and 1:30pm for afternoon papers to allow time for identification and other preliminary procedures.
Those arriving late will only be admitted within the first 15 minutes after an examination has started.
Candidates have also been advised to verify that examination paper envelopes are properly sealed before they are opened and distributed.
Eleven pupils rescued from registration gap
In a related development, UNEB intervened to resolve a registration problem involving 11 pupils from Skyland Primary School in Wakiso District who had initially been left without an examination centre number.
The pupils were subsequently registered at Kyebando UMEA Primary School, allowing them to sit their examinations.
The intervention followed concerns that the pupils had not been properly mapped to an examination centre, raising fears that they could miss the national examinations.
UNEB said the matter was resolved after the school sought the board’s intervention.
The 2026 PLE is being conducted under the theme, “Advancing Excellence in Assessment and Certification through Secure, Credible, Inclusive and Innovative Processes.”
