The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has released the timetables for the 2026 Primary Leaving Examination (PLE), Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE), setting the dates for the country’s next national examination cycle.
UNEB Executive Director Dan Odongo announced the timetables as the examination body stepped up preparations for the three sets of national examinations.
The 2026 examination cycle will officially begin on Thursday, October 8, 2026, with the briefing of UCE candidates.
The PLE will begin with candidate briefing on Friday, October 30, 2026, while the UACE examination cycle will start with candidate briefing on Friday, November 6, 2026.
The 2026 UCE candidates are the third cohort to be assessed under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) at the lower secondary level.
The UACE candidates, meanwhile, were among the pioneer cohorts to undertake the CBC at lower secondary school. They will therefore be assessed under a curriculum aligned with the competency-based approach and its corresponding assessment methods.
Odongo said heads of examination centres can access the timetables through their school portals, while hard copies have also been supplied alongside other examination stationery.
“Heads of Centers can access the timetables from their school portals. The Board has also availed hard copies of the timetables along with the other stationery. Enough copies for all the UCE and UACE candidates have been printed, and therefore schools should ensure that every candidate receives a copy of the timetable, as part of the preparation process.”
He added that schools should display the timetables on their noticeboards, while electronic versions will also be published on UNEB’s website and social media platforms.
Braille versions of the UCE and UACE timetables have been provided for candidates with visual impairments under Special Needs Education (SNE).
1.63 million candidates registered
UNEB said it has provisionally registered 1,627,885 candidates for the 2026 examinations, representing an increase of 211,437 candidates, or 14.9 per cent, from the 1,416,448 registered in 2025.
Females account for 52 per cent of the total candidature, while males constitute 48 per cent.
Government-sponsored learners under the Universal Education programmes at primary and secondary levels account for 52 per cent of the total candidature.
The Board has also registered 6,090 SNE learners.
At PLE level, candidature has risen from 818,885 in 2025 to 920,796 in 2026, an increase of 12.4 per cent.
UCE candidature has increased by 16.4 per cent, from 432,163 candidates in 2025 to 503,214 this year.
The largest percentage increase has been recorded at UACE, where candidature has risen from 166,400 in 2025 to 203,875 in 2026, representing a 22.5 per cent increase.
UNEB attributed the overall growth to higher completion rates, with more learners remaining in school and progressing to the next level.
The Board also reported a particularly sharp increase in candidature for traditional science subjects at UACE.
Schools told to verify candidate details
UNEB has reminded examination centres that the display of candidates’ registers will continue until October 7, 2026.
The requirement is provided for under the UNEB Act, Cap 259, which requires examination centres to display candidates’ lists ahead of the national examinations.
The exercise is intended to allow candidates to verify their registration status and ensure that their personal and examination details are correct.
Candidates have been advised to check the spelling and order of their names, date of birth, gender, quality of their photographs and, for UCE and UACE candidates, the subjects and papers for which they are registered.
After checking their details, candidates are required to sign the parallel register to confirm that their registration information is correct.
Odongo said schools should immediately notify UNEB of any errors.
“In case of anomalies in the registration data, candidates should inform the school authorities, who shall alert UNEB to make the necessary corrections.”
He also asked schools to notify the Board where a candidate who paid registration fees within the stipulated deadlines has not been registered.
UNEB warns against misuse of SNE provisions
UNEB has cautioned head teachers against falsely reporting candidates as having special educational needs in order to secure additional examination accommodations.
Odongo said some schools, particularly at primary level, have reported non-existent SNE cases or incorrectly classified candidates’ disabilities, including dyslexia and low vision.
According to UNEB, some of the reported cases have been intended to secure additional examination time or the services of transcribers.
The Board also raised concerns about the misuse of sign language interpreters, saying interpreters have in some cases been asked to interpret examination questions.
UNEB said such practices create an unfair advantage and increase the number of personnel required to administer the examinations.
2026 examinations to focus on secure and inclusive assessment
The theme for the 2026 examinations is: “Advancing Excellence in Assessment and Certification through Secure, Credible, Inclusive and Innovative Processes.”
Odongo said the theme reflects UNEB’s focus on maintaining quality in assessment and certification while strengthening examination security and credibility.
He said the theme also recognises the participation of candidates with special educational needs and the need to provide appropriate accommodations during examinations.
Innovation in assessment and certification is another element highlighted in the theme.
UNEB warns candidates against indiscipline
The examination body has also cautioned candidates against indiscipline and examination malpractice.
Odongo said candidates would remain subject to school rules and regulations during the examination period and warned that UNEB would not intervene on behalf of candidates suspended or dismissed for disciplinary offences.
He called on parents to provide guidance to their children as the examination period approaches.
Meanwhile, UNEB said it is conducting a final check on schools and examination centres that presented candidates in 2025 but have not registered candidates for the 2026 examinations.
The Board said a list of such schools and centres will be published in the print and electronic media by September 30, 2026, allowing parents and guardians to verify the status of schools in which their children are enrolled.
You can see lists of best performing schools in 2025 PLE, UCE and UACE exams Here, There and Over There.
