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When were the 2025 UCE Results released?
The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has officially released the 2025 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examination results today, 13 February 2026, at a colourful ceremony presided over by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni, at State House, Nakasero.
This marks the second year of assessing candidates under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), and the results paint a picture of remarkable progress.
Who released the 2025 UCE results, and where can they be found?
In his address, UNEB Chairperson Prof. Celestino Obua described the 2025 examination cycle as “far more familiar terrain” compared to the pioneering 2024 exams, crediting improved institutional capacity and the dedication of the Executive Director and staff.
He reaffirmed his belief in the CBC, first expressed last year, and backed it with fresh empirical evidence from a comprehensive UNEB study involving school administrators, teachers, and learners.
The study found that CBC-trained learners:
- Demonstrate strong research skills
- Construct knowledge independently
- Are more creative and innovative
- Communicate more effectively
- Show improved critical thinking and problem-solving abilities
“These outcomes affirm that the CBC is not only relevant but strategic in shaping a competent, skilled, and globally competitive generation,” Prof. Obua said. He promised that further details of the study would be released in the Executive Director’s summary report.
How many candidates registered and sat for the 2025 UCE exams?
UNEB Executive Director Dan Odongo presented the headline statistics:
- Registered candidates: 432,163 from 3,975 centres (a 20.2% increase from 359,417 in 2024)
- Males: 204,292 (47.3%)
- Females: 227,871 (52.7%) – females now form the majority
- USE beneficiaries: 154,642 (35.8%)
- Non-USE: 277,521 (64.2%)
Attendance was exceptional:
- Present: 429,949 (99.5%)
- Absent: 2,214 (0.5%)
The absenteeism rate continues to decline, reflecting better retention and participation.
How were special needs candidates supported in the 2025 UCE exams?
708 candidates with special needs registered (342 males, 366 females). The Board provided extensive accommodations, including:
- Braille papers for the blind
- Sign language interpreters for the deaf
- Enlarged print for low vision
- Extra 45 minutes per paper
- Support personnel for physically handicapped and dyslexic candidates
Only 4 candidates (0.6%) were absent.
What was the overall pass rate in the 2025 UCE exams compared to 2024?
For the first time under the CBC, performance is reported in achievement levels: A (Exceptional), B (Outstanding), C (Satisfactory), D (Basic), E (Elementary).
Table 2: General Performance in 2025 compared to 2024
| Grade | 2025 No. of Cands | 2025 % | 2024 No. of Cands | 2024 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result 1 | 428,628 | 99.69% | 350,146 | 98.1% |
| Result 2 | 1,191 | 0.28% | – | – |
| Result 3 | 130 | 0.03% | 6,974 | 1.9% |
| Absent | 2,214 | 0.5% | 2,297 | 0.6% |
- 99.69% of candidates who sat the exams qualified for the UCE certificate (Result 1) – up from 98.1% in 2024.
- The percentage who did not qualify dropped dramatically from 1.9% to just 0.31%.
Result 2 covers candidates missing project scores, CA marks, or sitting for fewer subjects than required.
Result 3 is for those who scored below basic level (E) in all subjects.
Which subjects showed the biggest improvement in 2025 UCE results?
Dan Odongo highlighted “higher exceptional levels of achievement” in Christian Religious Education, Geography, and English Language.
In the sciences, the percentage of candidates failing to reach at least D level fell very significantly. Females performed better in English and CRE, while males edged ahead in Mathematics, Sciences, and History.
What did candidates think about the difficulty of the 2025 UCE exams?
A random survey of 36,546 candidates (49.7% female) from 118 districts revealed:
- 96.3% said questions were within the syllabus
- 88.2% found items clearly presented
- 74.7% said time was adequate
Perceived difficulty:
- Easy: 4.7%
- Fair: 66.4%
- Difficult: 28.8%
Why do some candidates still struggle under the Competency-Based Curriculum?
While praising overall improvement, Odongo noted a persistent challenge observed in both 2024 and 2025: many candidates struggled to interpret scenarios, connect materials to real-life situations, and draw meaningful conclusions from experiments.
“This curriculum is not merely about learning facts,” he stressed. “It emphasises training the mind to think.”
He urged teachers to do more practical, scenario-based teaching.
How many cases of exam malpractice were reported in the 2025 UCE?
Only 63 cases of malpractice were recorded – mostly in Mathematics and practical papers in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. The nature of CBC questions makes cheating difficult, and many attempts were easily detected because candidates’ investigation designs did not match the results they recorded.
What do the 2025 UCE results mean for Uganda’s education system?
The 2025 UCE results represent a powerful validation of the Competency-Based Curriculum. With near-universal qualification rates, sharper skills among learners, and a continued decline in malpractice and absenteeism, Uganda is clearly producing the kind of graduates needed to drive the country toward middle-income status.
Candidates can now access their results via SMS (UCE to 6600) or through their schools and the UNEB e-portal.
Congratulations to the Class of 2025 – and well done to the teachers, parents, and UNEB team who made this success possible.
