The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has released the final timetable for the 2026 national examinations, with more than 1.6 million candidates registered to sit for the Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE), Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE), and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE). UNEB Executive Director Dan Odong unveiled the timetable on September 23, 2026, at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala. The examination season is expected to begin on October 8, with the briefing of UCE candidates, followed by the written examinations the following week.
According to the timetable, PLE candidates will attend their briefing on Friday, October 30, before beginning their written examinations the following week. UACE candidates, on the other hand, will be briefed on November 6 and will start their final examinations the following week. UNEB has also informed heads of examination centres that they can access the detailed timetables through their respective school portals. The board has urged schools and examination centres to make the necessary preparations ahead of the examination period.
Mr. Dan Odong revealed that a total of 1,627,885 candidates have been registered for the three national examinations. This represents an increase of 211,437 candidates, equivalent to 14.9 percent, compared to the number registered in 2025. The registration figures also indicate that female candidates continue to make up a larger proportion of those reaching the national examination level, with females accounting for 52 percent of the registered candidates.
The registered candidates also include 6,090 learners with special educational needs, reflecting the participation of learners with different educational requirements in the national examinations. UNEB further revealed that about 52 percent of the candidates are sponsored by the government through its universal education programmes. Mr. Odong encouraged parents to support and advise their children on the importance of studying and preparing adequately for the examinations, noting that education plays an important role in shaping their future.
The 2026 UCE examinations will also see UNEB assess the third group of candidates under the Competency-Based Curriculum. Meanwhile, UACE candidates include pioneers who sat the first examinations under the new curriculum in 2024, when it was introduced into Uganda’s education system. In his concluding remarks, Mr. Odong cautioned candidates against engaging in examination malpractice or any other practices that could lead to their disqualification. He encouraged students to remain disciplined, follow examination rules, and prepare seriously for their final examinations.