First lady Janet Museveni’s Ministry of Education and Sports has banned the publication of Uneb results in the media.
The ministry has warned school heads against publishing candidates’ results from national examinations conducted by assessment body Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb).
Education Ministry Permanent Secretary Dr Kedrace Turyagyenda announced the ban on publication of candidates’ national examinations in the media in a May 7, 2025 circular to all heads of institutions of learning and all proprietors of private schools and institutions.
The communication, she explained, is meant to “reaffirm the Ministry’s position on the matter, in accordance with the law, best interest of learners’ privacy and well-being,” as well as “guide all education institutions on the appropriate handling and communication of national examination results.”
The notice of ban of publication of candidates’ national examinations in the media was also sent to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government; Executive Director, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA); Inspector General of Police, Resident District Commissioners, District Chairpersons, Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs), and Town/City Clerks.
Copies were also sent to District/Municipal/City Education Officers, District/Municipal/City Inspectors of Schools, Chairperson, Association of Secondary Schools Headteachers of Uganda, and to the Chairperson, National Association of Municipal and District Education Officers.
PS Dr Kedrace Turyagyenda reminded headteachers and proprieters that during the release of the 2024 results for the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE), Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE), and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE), Janet Museveni had cautioned them against publicizing candidates’ results.
She added that the directive was a show of the ministry’s commitment to safeguarding the privacy, dignity, and well-being of all learners, as well as “ensuring that academic achievements are handled with discretion in accordance with the law.”
The Permanent Secretary also noted that publication of candidates’ results in the media flouts provisions of the Data Protection and Privacy Act, 2019.
“The Ministry of Education and Sports has noted with concern the continued publication of Uganda National Examinations results, specifically individual candidates’ scores, result slips, and photographs across various public media channels and billboards. This practice is in violation of the Data Protection and Privacy Act, 2019,” she wrote.
“As Educational Leaders, it is your responsibility to uphold and protect the rights and welfare of students. Publicizing examination results not only breaches legal provisions but also exposes learners and their families 10 undue stress, anxiety, and possible har@$sment or st!gma. Such actions are deemed unlawful under Part VIII, Section 36 (1-2) of the Data Protection and Privacy Act, 2019, which prescribes penalties for non-compliance.”
To mitigate these risks, continued Dr Turyagyenda, all schools are directed to comply with the guidelines on the issue of publication of candidates’ results in the media.
“Avoid using candidates’ examination results for advertising or marketing purposes. Schools are instead encouraged to showcase the holistic educational experience they offer, including extracurricular activities, community engagement, and institutional development initiatives,” she directed.
“Ensure examination results are communicated privately to students and their parents/guardians through official channels, such as sealed school letters or secure digital platforms. Schools must refrain from displaying results on notice boards, social media platforms, or any other public forums.”
Where necessary, Turyagyenda continued, a general performance summary may be shared without revealing names or photographs of individual candidates.
Continuously sensitize key stakeholders (including —staff, students, parents/guardians, and governing bodies) on the importance of maintaining confidentiality regarding examination results, and the negative implications of public disclosure.
The PS has also ordered all headteachers of private schools “to enforce this directive diligently as part of their obligation lo the Ministry,” warning that “any Head of School found in breach of this guidance will be subject to stern disciplinary action.”
Away from the ban on the publication of candidates’ results in the media, the education ministry is currently facing the challenge of arts teachers’ looming strike over government’s failure to increase their salaries to match those of their colleagues who teach sciences. (See Details Here, There and Over There).
It should also be remembered that Uneb recently fired some of its officials over the ‘marks for sale’ scandal. (See Details Here).
You can also see the lists of top performing primary schools, O-level schools and A-level schools that sent the biggest number of students to public universities on government sponsorship this year Here, There and Over There.
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