A total of 817,885 Primary Seven candidates across Uganda are today sitting for their Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE), marking a significant moment in the country’s academic calendar.
According to data released by the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB), this year’s figure represents a 2.5 percent increase from the 797,444 candidates who sat for the exams in 2024 — a steady rise that reflects growing enrolment and retention in primary education nationwide.
The examinations, which officially commence this morning, will begin with Mathematics, followed by Social Studies and Religious Education in the afternoon. UNEB said exams are being conducted at 16,140 centres across the country, under strict supervision and heightened security.
Gender and Participation Trends
This year’s candidate pool continues to show progress in gender parity, with 428,356 girls (52%) and 389,529 boys (48%) registered — maintaining a recent trend of girls slightly outnumbering boys at the primary school level.
Of the total number, 522,039 candidates (64%) are enrolled under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) programme, while 295,846 (36%) are privately sponsored learners.
UNEB has also highlighted inclusivity among this year’s candidates, with 61 inmates from Upper Prison School Luzira — including seven women and 54 men — sitting the exams. This effort, the Board said, underscores its continued commitment to ensuring that education remains accessible to all, regardless of circumstance.
Support for Learners with Special Needs
A total of 3,644 candidates with special learning needs are part of this year’s cohort. Among them, 33 are blind, 620 have low vision, 300 have hearing impairments, and 1,318 are diagnosed with dyslexia or multiple disabilities.
To support them, UNEB has provided an extra 45 minutes per paper and deployed 1,505 specialized personnel to ensure that all candidates receive the assistance they need to complete their exams effectively and fairly.
Commitment to Exam Integrity
The examinations body has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and transparency throughout the exercise. UNEB Executive Director Dan Odongo emphasized that stringent measures have been put in place to prevent and address any attempts at malpractice.
“The integrity of our national examinations remains non-negotiable,” UNEB stated, assuring the public that security agencies are working closely with the Board to guarantee a smooth and credible exercise.
Theme and Outlook
This year’s PLE is being conducted under the theme, “Embracing Security and Holistic Assessment of Learners in a Dynamic Environment.” The two-day exercise will conclude tomorrow, November 4, 2025, with candidates expected to sit for Science and English Language papers.
Education stakeholders have praised UNEB for its efforts to make examinations more inclusive and secure while maintaining high assessment standards across all regions.
As more than 817,000 pupils take this crucial step in their academic journey, the nation watches with hope and pride — celebrating not only their determination but also the resilience of Uganda’s education system in providing opportunity for every learner.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.
