UNEB Releases 2026 Examination Timetable as Candidate Numbers Rise
By Kyeyune Ali
The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has released the 2026 examination timetable for Primary Leaving Examination (PLE), Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE), with examinations set to begin in October.
The timetable was released Wednesday at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala, with the first activity scheduled for October 8, 2026, when UCE candidates will receive their briefing.
The Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) will officially begin on Friday, October 30, 2026, while the UCE and UACE examination schedules will follow according to the timetable released by UNEB.
UNEB has registered a total of 1,627,885 candidates for the three examination levels, representing an increase of 211,437 candidates from the 1,416,448 candidates registered in 2025.
According to UNEB, 52 percent of the total candidature is sponsored by the government under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education programmes.
At PLE level, candidature has increased from 818,885 candidates in 2025 to 920,796 in 2026, representing a 12.4 percent increase.
UCE candidature has risen from 432,163 in 2025 to 503,214 candidates, an increase of 16.4 percent.
The biggest increase has been recorded at UACE level, where candidature has jumped from 166,400 candidates in 2025 to 203,875 in 2026.
UNEB Executive Director Dan Odongo attributed the sharp increase in candidature at all three levels to improved completion and transition rates.
“There is a sharp increase in candidature at all levels which we may attribute to higher completion rates, with more learners staying on in school and transitioning to the next level,” Odongo said.
The UNEB Executive Director also cautioned candidates against indiscipline during the examination period, warning that those involved in examination-related misconduct could face disciplinary action.
“We wish to caution candidates against involvement in acts of indiscipline. They will definitely be disqualified from the contest of the school,” Odongo said.
He further called upon parents to provide adequate guidance and support to candidates throughout the examination period.
UNEB has also advised candidates to carefully verify the information submitted for registration, including the correctness and order of their names, date of birth, gender, photograph and subjects and papers registered, particularly for UCE and UACE candidates.
Heads of examination centres will be able to access the timetables through their respective school portals. UNEB has also provided hard copies of the timetables together with other examination stationery.
Meanwhile, UNEB has raised concern over some government UPE schools that allegedly registered private candidates under the UPE programme, collected money from parents and failed to remit the funds to the examination body.
Odongo said the practice amounts to defrauding the government and warned schools against such actions.
The 2026 UNEB examination theme is: “Advancing excellence in assessment and certification through secure, credible, inclusive and innovative processes.”
UNEB says the theme reflects its commitment to continuously improving the quality, security and credibility of its assessment processes leading to the award of national certificates.