KAMPALA, Uganda — The Uganda National Examinations Board on Friday released the 2025 Uganda Certificate of Education results, revealing a record-breaking qualification rate for the second group of students assessed under the new Competency Based Curriculum.
Data from the board shows that 99.69% of candidates who sat for the examinations qualified for a UCE certificate. This represents a significant achievement for the new curriculum model, which emphasizes continuous assessment and practical application over rote memorization.
Executive Director Dan N. Odongo reported that out of the 429,949 candidates present for the exams, 428,628 reached the necessary competency levels to be awarded certificates. This is an improvement from the inaugural competency-based cohort in 2024, which saw a 98.1% qualification rate. The number of students failing to qualify dropped from 1.9% last year to just 0.31% in 2025.
The 2025 examinations saw a 20.2% increase in registration, with 432,163 candidates compared to 359,417 the previous year. The total included 227,871 females and 204,292 males.
Under the competency-based framework, final scores are a hybrid of school-based work and a final national exam. Continuous assessment conducted at the school level contributes 20% of the final result, while the UNEB end-of-cycle examination accounts for the remaining 80%.
Odongo noted that the record qualification rates were supported by strong performances in English language, geography and Christian religious education. In the sciences, while more students reached at least a basic competency level, examiners noted that learners still face difficulties with the practical application of their knowledge.
Scorers reported that many candidates struggled to link experimental results to real-life situations. Odongo said the curriculum is designed to train the mind to think and solve problems rather than just learning facts, suggesting that teachers must continue to refine how they guide learners through scenario-based tasks.
The board also highlighted the success of inclusive education initiatives. Among special needs candidates, 98.2% qualified for certificates. In the prison system, 51 out of 52 registered inmates at Luzira and Mbarara facilities also met the requirements for the UCE award.
Despite the transition to a new assessment style, examination malpractice remained low. Only 63 cases were reported, mostly involving science practicals where candidates were allegedly provided with results to copy rather than conducting independent investigations.
The board has moved to a digital-first distribution model. Results are now available through school portals for headteachers to download. Parents and students can access their scores instantly by sending an SMS with the word UCE, a space and the candidate’s full index number to 6600 on the MTN or Airtel networks.
