The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has released the results of the 2025 Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) examinations, revealing an increase in the number of candidates and an overall improvement in performance compared to the previous year.
The examinations were conducted between November 10 and December 5, 2025.
According to the statement presented by UNEB Executive Director Dan N. Odongo, a total of 166,400 candidates registered for the examinations, up from 141,996 in 2024, representing an increase of 24,404 candidates (17.2%).
Of those registered, 165,172 candidates sat the examinations, with females accounting for 43.8 percent and males 56.2 percent.
The number of examination centres also increased from 2,255 in 2024 to 2,452 in 2025, reflecting the growing number of learners advancing to A-level education.
UNEB reported that 98.9 percent of candidates qualified for the UACE certificate, with improved performance recorded in the number of candidates obtaining principal passes.
A total of 68,906 candidates (41.7%) obtained three principal passes, while 44,385 candidates (26.9%) obtained two principal passes.
Another 31,838 candidates (19.3%) secured one principal pass, and 18,152 candidates (11%) obtained one subsidiary pass. Only 1,891 candidates (1.1%) failed the examinations.
Based on the current university admission requirement of two principal passes, 113,291 candidates (68.6%) qualify for admission to degree programmes, compared to 92,273 candidates (65.5%) in 2024.
The results also show that female candidates performed better proportionally than males, particularly at higher pass levels.
A higher percentage of girls obtained three and two principal passes, while male candidates recorded slightly higher failure rates.
However, male candidates continued to dominate in top A grades in science subjects and mathematics, despite the growing number of female entries in these areas.
Entries for Mathematics, Chemistry and Biology have steadily increased over the past five years, though Physics continues to record lower candidature, especially among female students.
UNEB noted improvements in several subjects including Mathematics, Geography, Economics, Agriculture, Chemistry, Biology and Literature in English, while performance declined in Entrepreneurship Education, Christian Religious Education, Fine Art and Physics.
A total of 540 candidates with special needs registered for the examinations, up from 437 in 2024.
Most of these candidates were in the category requiring additional examination time due to medical conditions such as asthma, epilepsy and sickle cell anaemia.
UNEB also registered 70 prison inmates from Luzira Upper Prison, of whom 68 sat the examinations. Of these, 31 candidates obtained three principal passes, while 66 qualified for the UACE certificate.
The board reported 351 cases of examination malpractice, representing 0.2 percent of the total candidates, from 47 examination centres.
The cases mainly involved possession of unauthorized materials, impersonation and receiving assistance during science practical examinations.
Investigations are ongoing and the results of the affected candidates remain withheld.
