The Uganda National Examinations Board, UNEB, has extended the normal registration period for candidates sitting the 2026 national examinations to June 30, to allow newly accredited examination centres complete the process.
In a press statement issued on May 28, UNEB Executive Director Dan Odongo said late registration will begin on July 1 and close on July 31, warning that there will be no registration after the deadline.
“Normal registration has been extended to 30th June, 2026 to accommodate the new centres that have just been accredited,” Mr Odongo said.
Mr Odongo added that late registration will attract a surcharge of 100 percent for Primary Leaving Examination, PLE, candidates and 50 percent for Uganda Certificate of Education, UCE, and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education, UACE, candidates.
“There will be no MORE registration of candidates after July 31st, 2026. Centres are urged to complete the registration process early within the period allowed to avoid the congestion that tends to occur towards the deadline,” Mr Odongo said.
The board said government will continue paying registration fees for learners sponsored under Universal Primary Education, UPE, Universal Secondary Education, USE, and Universal Post O-Level Education and Training, UPOLET.
For privately sponsored candidates, the fees remain Shs34,000 for PLE, Shs164,000 for UCE and Shs186,000 for UACE.
Mr Odongo said this year’s UCE candidates are the third cohort under the Competency Based Curriculum, CBC, which requires learners to register for a minimum of eight and a maximum of nine subjects.
“Continuous Assessment scores for the subjects offered, as well as Project scores shall be a requirement for certification,” Mr Odongo said.
According to UNEB, only candidates who sat PLE in 2022 or earlier and obtained grades one to four or their equivalent will qualify to register for UCE examinations this year.
The board also warned candidates against changing names and optional subjects at Senior Four after submission of Continuous Assessment scores.
“Candidates whose CA scores have been submitted to UNEB are advised not to change names and optional subjects at S.4 registration,” Mr Odongo said.
For UACE, UNEB said candidates will be assessed under the aligned curriculum and modified scenario-based assessment format.
“Only candidates who passed UCE, Grades 1,2,3, and 4 for old curriculum, and Result 1 for the Competency Based Curriculum, and obtained the Uganda Certificate of Education in 2024 or earlier, or possess an equivalent qualification can be registered for the 2026 UACE Examination,” Mr Odongo said.
UNEB said candidates who sat UACE in 2025 or earlier and wish to repeat will not be required to sit transitional examinations because the aligned curriculum content framework has not changed.
The board also directed all candidates with foreign results to first have their marks equated by UNEB before registration.
“After receiving the equated results, the candidates will be given a unique code to enable them register electronically,” Mr Odongo said.
UNEB further warned schools against charging unauthorised fees in the name of examination registration, saying offenders risk imprisonment, fines and withdrawal of examination centre status.
“According to the UNEB Act, CAP 259, section 33, it is an offence to charge fees not prescribed by UNEB and refer to such fees as ‘UNEB Fees’,” Mr Odongo warned.
The board said the offence attracts “a penalty of two thousand currency points, Forty Million Shillings, or a term of imprisonment not exceeding ten years or both.”
UNEB also cautioned heads of centres against misappropriating registration fees or fraudulently registering private candidates as government-sponsored learners.
“Any head of an examination centre or school director that will be found indulging in this practice shall pay twice the amount that has been defrauded,” Mr Odongo said.
The board reminded schools to display registers of registered candidates on noticeboards at least 60 days before the start of examinations to allow parents and learners verify biodata details.
UNEB said parents and candidates will also be able to confirm registration status through SMS by sending the full index number to 6600.
Furthermore, the board reiterated that erasable pens are prohibited during all UNEB examinations.
“Finally, the Board wishes to notify learners, parents and Heads of Centres that the use of erasable pen is NOT permitted during any of the UNEB examinations,” Mr Odongo said.
