The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has withheld the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) 2025 results of several candidates after uncovering widespread examination malpractice, with Kisoro, Kampala and Mukono emerging as the most affected districts.
The results were released on Friday at State House, Nakasero.
A total of 817,883 candidates from 15,388 examination centres registered for PLE 2025, up from 797,444 candidates in 2024. Of these, 522,036 candidates (63.8 per cent) from 11,525 centres were beneficiaries of Universal Primary Education (UPE), while 295,847 candidates (36.2 per cent) from 3,863 centres were non-UPE learners.
UNEB said most of the results withheld this year are from districts that have repeatedly been linked to examination irregularities. Apart from Kisoro, Kampala and Mukono, other affected districts include Namutumba, Kassanda, Buyende and Kaliro.
According to UNEB executive director Dan Odongo, examination malpractice has taken a more organised and brazen form, with candidates being assisted directly during examinations.
“Examination malpractice has now taken a brazen form where scouts and invigilators are bribed or threatened with physical harm by the school directors and headteachers to allow teachers to assist candidates directly in the examination rooms,” Mr Odongo said.
Mr Odongo also expressed concern over the involvement of some district education officials in the vice.
“Hon.Minister, as you have heard from the Chairperson, it is sad that some of our would-be partners in the District Education offices are becoming complicit in this, and other unprofessional acts,” he said.
In line with Section 5(2)(b) of the UNEB Act, Cap 259, Mr Odongo said the results of affected candidates have been withheld pending completion of investigations, and that all affected candidates will be accorded a fair hearing before the Board’s Tribunal makes final decisions.
Mr Odongo praised the role of security agencies in curbing malpractice.
“I am very grateful to our dedicated Security team that has worked so hard on these cases of malpractice,” he said.
He also cited Kyenjojo, Kabarole and Bundibugyo as districts where malpractice cases have declined.
“I want to salute the leadership of Kyenjojo, Kabarole and Bundibugyo districts from where most cases were emanating, that a great change of heart appears to have taken place. Since Kyenjojo in 2024, no case has been reported from the district,” Mr Odongo said.
Meanwhile, Mr Odongo said results for each examination centre have been uploaded on the Centre Portal and can be downloaded once officially released. Parents and candidates may also access results through the Short Messaging Service (SMS) on MTN and Airtel by sending the candidate’s full index number to 6600.
District, municipal and city Inspectors of Schools will collect hard copies of the results from UNEB offices in Ntinda starting Monday, February 2, 2026.
Mr Odongo urged heads of examination centres to study the results carefully and submit any queries, including errors in names or dates of birth, within two weeks from the date of release.