Kampala, Uganda – February 11, 2025
Despite the challenges, UNEB has declared the first UCE examination under the CBC a success. The Board emphasized the importance of improving teaching strategies to help students apply knowledge to real-life situations.
The Education Ministry has reiterated its commitment to addressing gaps in implementation, particularly in IT infrastructure and teacher training.
With the new CBC-focused assessment now in full effect, stakeholders will be keenly watching how future cohorts adapt to this modernized education system.
The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has officially released the 2024 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) results, marking the first-ever assessment under the new Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). The results were presented to the Minister of Education and Sports in a ceremony highlighting significant changes in student evaluation and reporting.
This year’s examination, conducted under the theme “Embracing Security and Holistic Assessment of Learners in a Dynamic Environment,” introduced a shift from traditional grading methods to a new achievement-based system. Students’ performance is now categorized into five competency levels: A (Exceptional), B (Outstanding), C (Satisfactory), D (Basic), and E (Elementary).
The assessment incorporated Continuous Assessment (CA) and Project Work, which accounted for 20% of the final score, while the End-of-Cycle examination contributed 80%. Unlike the past grading system, students are no longer ranked in divisions, and certification is based on achieving at least a D grade in one subject.
A total of 359,417 candidates registered for the examination, with 357,120 (99.4%) sitting for their papers. Of these, 50.7% were female and 49.3% male. Special needs students also participated, with 743 candidates registered, receiving various support measures, including braille materials and sign language interpreters.
The overall pass rate stood at 98.05%, meaning 350,146 candidates qualified for the UCE certificate. However, candidates who failed to meet the minimum assessment requirements were categorized under Result 2 or Result 3, indicating they did not qualify for certification.
Subjects such as Art & Design, History, Agriculture, and Mathematics recorded high levels of achievement, while Physics, Chemistry, and English Language showed lower performance levels. UNEB examiners noted that students struggled with real-life application of scientific concepts, a key focus of the new curriculum.
Gender analysis revealed that female candidates performed better in English Language, Christian Religious Education, and Art & Design, while males excelled in Mathematics, Agriculture, and Sciences.
UNEB reported various challenges, including limited IT infrastructure in schools, shortages of science laboratories, and resistance to the new curriculum from some schools.
Additionally, scorers’ strikes over pay demands posed a challenge during the marking process.
Cases of examination malpractice significantly reduced, with only 64 reported cases involving 984 candidates, compared to nearly 3,000 last year. Most malpractice cases occurred in science practicals, where candidates were found copying experimental results without conducting proper investigations.
Candidates can access their results through their respective schools or via SMS by sending UCE Index Number to 6600 on MTN and Airtel networks. UNEB has urged school heads to review results and submit queries within 21 working days.