Eleven pupils who risked missing their Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) after their school failed to register them will sit the papers following an intervention by the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB).
The pupils from Skyland Primary School in Wakiso District secured places at Kyebando UMEA Primary School on November 1, 2026, two days before the examinations begin.
UNEB spokesperson Jennifer Kalule-Musamba said Skyland lacked an examination centre number. The school had believed its pupils had registered through another school in Mukono.
The problem emerged after candidates across the country attended briefing on October 30, 2026. The school then sought UNEB’s help over the weekend.
Speaking on November 2, 2026, Kalule-Musamba said UNEB directed Skyland to find a centre in Wakiso that could accommodate the pupils.
“Last evening, the candidates were duly registered at Kyebando UMEA Primary School,” she said. “So we want to reassure the parent and the learners that the candidates will write their papers.”
The intervention allows the pupils to join 920,833 candidates registered for this year’s PLE across 16,478 examination centres. UNEB said candidature rose by 12.5 per cent from 817,885 last year.
Girls account for 484,620 candidates, or 52.7 per cent, while boys total 436,213.
Government will fund 576,342 candidates under the Universal Primary Education programme. Another 344,491 are privately sponsored.
At Uganda Government Upper Prison School in Luzira, 53 candidates will sit the examinations. They include six women and 47 men.
UNEB has also arranged support for 4,655 candidates with special educational needs. Each will receive an extra 45 minutes per paper.
The support includes braille materials, large-print papers, sign language interpreters and transcribers, depending on each learner’s needs. UNEB has deployed 1,544 personnel to assist them.
A further 162 district monitors and 13,738 scouts will oversee the examinations. Security officers will protect examination materials, candidates and field staff.
Kalule-Musamba warned against examination malpractice. She said some people had created social media platforms to collect money while claiming they could supply UNEB question papers.
She warned that those involved risk prosecution under the UNEB Act, with penalties of up to 10 years in prison, a Shs40 million fine, or both.
Invigilators and scouts who negligently allow malpractice could also face prosecution. Kalule-Musamba said they risk up to five years in prison, a Shs20 million fine, or both.
