Agency
The 2024 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations kicked off smoothly in Kitgum District on Monday morning, with no reported delays or irregularities across all centres under Station 039.
According to Opoka Christopher, the head teacher of Kitgum High School and UNEB area supervisor for Station 039, the first batch of examination papers arrived safely early in the morning.
The examination papers were then escorted by the Police from the Kitgum Central Police Station, areas located out of Kitgum town, and to the Lamwo district.
The day began with Geography Paper 1, a compulsory paper for all UCE candidates countrywide.
At Kitgum High School, examinations began promptly at 9:00 am.
Opoka, who supervises 12 schools under Station 039, including Kitgum High School, YY Okot Girls Memorial College, and Reverend Jabloni Isoke Memorial College, said most schools were well-prepared despite the challenges during the academic year.
He added that while last year’s results were affected by disruptions, including a three-week industrial strike by secondary school teachers, the situation has since stabilized after government intervention.
The 2025 UCE examinations began with Geography Paper 1, the longest paper on the timetable, lasting two hours and forty-five minutes.
In the afternoon, candidates sate for Biology Paper 1. This is the second UCE examination under the new lower secondary curriculum.
UNEB registered 432,025 candidates this year, marking a 12.1 percent increase from last year’s 379,699. The exams are being conducted at 4,308 centers nationwide.
Female candidates make up 52.9 percent of the total, outnumbering their male counterparts. The examination has also attracted 679 special needs candidates.
This year’s candidates are part of the group that missed the Primary Leaving Examinations in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions.
They later sat the exams in 2021, although they were originally meant to be the 2020 PLE cohort.
Meanwhile, Distribution of Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examination papers in Arua City was delayed on Monday morning after presidential security closed several key roads leading to the UNEB storage facility.
President Museveni is in West Nile city to canvass support for his re-election bid.
His security team cordoned off four major roads around Arua Central Police Station, where the examination materials are kept.
The blocked roads include Rhino Camp Road, Ediofe Road, Nebbi Road, and Weatherhead Park Lane.
The closures were intended to secure the president during his combined campaign trail across Arua District and the city.
ASP Godfrey Ssekajja, Officer in Charge of Traffic at Arua City, advised head teachers to use alternative routes to access the UNEB storage facility.
