Namirembe – Kampala, July 14, 2025 — Church of Uganda, through the Directorate of Education Services, has today officially flagged off the distribution of Mock examinations for Church-founded primary and secondary schools across Uganda.
The initiative is aimed at improving learners’ academic performance, competence, and familiarization with the revised national curriculum and its new examination format.
The flag-off ceremony, organized by the Provincial Examination Agency, took place this afternoon at the Provincial Secretariat in Namirembe. It was presided over by Canon
John Tereraho, the Provincial Head of Laity and a seasoned educationist. The event was attended by Mr. Balaam Muheebwa, Acting Provincial Secretary; Rev. Canon Dr. Paul Kakooza, Director of Education Services; and Mr. William Kiwanuka, Chairperson of the Provincial Examinations Agency among others.
Established on March 20, 2023, by the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, The Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, the Provincial Examination Agency was launched to complement Diocesan efforts by generating quality assessments, designed to monitor student progress, provide constructive feedback, and inform classroom instruction.
In his address, Canon John Tereraho decried the growing gap between teacher qualifications and student competence, attributing it in part to the manipulative nature of current national examinations.
“It is sad to find a school with qualified teachers but very incompetent students. We must try as much as we can to save our children from intellectual genocide. Education should be treated as a service, not a business.” he said
He criticized the high-stakes examination environment, especially during PLE, UCE, and UACE periods, where both parents and students endure sleepless nights.
“Parents are now like students—doing homework and staying up all night. Education should sharpen children like arrows to tackle future challenges,” he added.
Canon Tereraho commended the Church of Uganda for its decision to extend mock examinations across all regions, enabling the identification of region-specific academic challenges.
Rev. Canon Dr. Paul Kakooza highlighted the achievements of the Church of Uganda Heads of Education Institutions Association (COUHEIA) and the Provincial Examination Agency. He noted their commitment to inclusivity by serving underprivileged schools in remote regions such as Karamoja, Kitgum, and Ruwenzori, where access to quality assessments is limited.
Dr. Kakooza also emphasized the Church’s investment in academic research through its Endowment Fund, which supports scholarly work across its universities and institutions.
“Last year, we received 16 research papers, all of which were reviewed and will be published by Bishop Stuart University. We are also preparing to launch an academic journal featuring articles from COUHEIA leaders,” he said.
Dr. Kakooza expressed deep concern over the safety of school-going children, citing a Nile Post report which revealed that 239 children aged 5 to 18 were involved in road accidents during the first half of 2024. He urged the Ministry of Works and Transport to install speed humps and clearly marked child-crossing signage near schools to enhance road safety.
Additionally, he called for heightened vigilance to address the alarming rise in drug and substance abuse among learners, noting that the Directorate of Education Services has established a dedicated office to advocate for drug free schools.
Mr. Balaam Muheebwa, the Acting Provincial Secretary, commended the Directorate of Education Services for its strategic efforts in improving the quality of education across Church of Uganda-founded schools. He acknowledged the Directorate’s role in developing innovative initiatives such as the Provincial Examination Agency and the endowment Fund, which continue to bridge learning gaps and support under-resourced regions.
Mr. William Kiwanuka, the Chairperson of the Provincial Examination Agency, reiterated the importance of the mock exams in familiarizing learners—especially those in secondary schools with the competence-based curriculum. He clarified that A-Level students will continue to be assessed using the outgoing curriculum, as the new one has not yet been rolled out for them.
