KAMPALA — The Uganda National Examinations Board has provisionally registered 1,403,169 candidates for the 2026 national examinations.
The figure covers candidates for the Primary Leaving Examination, Uganda Certificate of Education and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education.
UNEB said the numbers were recorded as of June 15, 2026, with normal registration expected to close on June 30.
Jennifer Kalule, UNEB’s principal public relations officer, said schools still have time to complete the process before the end of the extended normal registration period.
She said provisional candidature currently stands at 1,403,169 across the three assessment levels.
PLE Candidates Lead Registration Figures
According to UNEB, 844,341 candidates have so far registered for the 2026 Primary Leaving Examination.
Of these, 444,133 are female, representing 52.6 percent.
Male candidates total 400,208, representing 47.4 percent.
UNEB said 539,954 PLE candidates, or 64 percent, are registered under the government-funded Universal Primary Education programme.
The remaining 304,387 candidates, or 36 percent, are privately sponsored.
UCE Registration Stands at 401,509
At Uganda Certificate of Education level, provisional registration stands at 401,509 candidates.
Female candidates account for 213,421 of the total, representing 53.2 percent.
Male candidates stand at 188,088, representing 46.8 percent.
UNEB said 152,043 UCE candidates, or 38 percent, are sponsored by government under the Universal Secondary Education programme.
Another 249,466 candidates, or 62 percent, are privately sponsored.
UACE Candidates Reach 157,319
At Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education level, 157,319 candidates have so far registered.
Of these, 76,383 are female, representing 48.6 percent.
Male candidates total 80,936, representing 51.4 percent.
UNEB said 57,933 UACE candidates, or 37 percent, are funded by government under the Uganda Post O-Level Education and Training programme.
The remaining 99,386 candidates, or 63.1 percent, are privately sponsored.
Registration Centres Yet to Complete Exercise
UNEB said 91.5 percent of PLE centres have submitted their registration data.
At UCE level, 76.6 percent of centres have submitted their data.
For UACE, 69 percent of centres have registered candidates.
A total of 23,421 centres are expected to register candidates for the 2026 examinations.
These include 15,999 PLE centres, 4,436 UCE centres and 2,986 UACE centres.
Late Registration to Attract Surcharges
Kalule said normal registration will continue until June 30, 2026.
Late registration will take place in July for learners who fail to register during the normal period.
However, late registration will attract a surcharge of 100 percent for PLE candidates.
UCE and UACE candidates will pay a surcharge of 50 percent.
UNEB said late registration will close on July 31, 2026.
After that date, the examinations body will not register any more candidates for the 2026 cycle.
Kalule urged heads of centres with government-sponsored candidates to complete registration before the normal registration window closes.
UNEB also asked headteachers to ensure that all eligible candidates are registered so that no learner is left out.
UNEB Warns Schools on Extra Charges
Kalule said UNEB has maintained the official registration fees.
PLE candidates are required to pay Shs34,000.
UCE candidates are required to pay Shs164,000.
UACE candidates are required to pay Shs186,000.
The warning comes after parents previously complained about some schools allegedly charging higher registration fees.
Kalule cautioned schools against describing other administrative costs as UNEB fees.
She said the UNEB Act, CAP 259, Section 33, makes it an offence to charge fees not prescribed by UNEB and present them as official UNEB fees.
“Heads of centres and school directors are therefore cautioned against calling any other administrative costs UNEB fees,” Kalule warned.
UNEB also reminded candidates, parents and heads of centres to verify candidate biodata.
The examinations body said candidates must confirm that their details are correct and sign as proof that they have checked the information.
