Students across Uganda have begun taking the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations today October 12, 2023, with Geography Papers 1 and 2 taking precedence as mandatory subjects for all registered candidates.
Jennifer Kalule, the spokesperson for the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB), confirmed that the exam materials reached all centers 30 minutes prior to the scheduled time. The distribution process, which started on Saturday, utilized 25 distinct routes to ensure efficient operations.
Kalule issued a stern warning to headteachers, students, and anyone involved in malpractice, stating that those caught would face legal charges or be subjected to a fine of UGX5 million, as per the court’s ruling.
To ensure the integrity of the exams, UNEB is collaborating with various security agencies. A total of 110,000 individuals, including 107,941 investigators and 1,113 supervisors, have been deployed to manage and oversee the examination process, revealed Kalule.
The examination session is expected to witness over 300,000 candidates, out of which 118,000 benefit from government funding through the Universal Secondary Education (USE) program. The remaining 245,000 candidates are privately sponsored, while a small group of 59 are inmates from LuziraPrison.
As the exams proceed, students are encouraged to demonstrate their knowledge and abilities while adhering to the guidelines set by UNEB. The successful completion of the UCE exams will be a significant milestone for these candidates in their academic journeys.