The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has reported a drop in the number of Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) candidates obtaining Division 1 in 2024. However, the overall performance of candidates has improved compared to 2023.
According to Dan Odongo, the UNEB Executive Director, 797,444 candidates from 14,883 schools registered for PLE in 2024, an increase from 749,347 candidates in 2023. Of these, 524,025 (65.7%) were Universal Primary Education (UPE) beneficiaries, while 273,419 (34.3%) attended Non-UPE schools.
The 2024 data also highlighted gender trends. “Analysis by gender shows that 378,709 (47.5%) boys registered compared to 418,750 (52.5%) girls, indicating more girls than boys completed the Primary Education cycle. This has been the trend in recent years,” Odongo noted.
Additionally, 71 candidates sat for the exams from Luzira Upper Prison, including 70 males and 1 female, while 37 male candidates registered from Mbarara Main Prison.
On performance, Odongo stated, “There is a drop in the number of candidates obtaining Division 1. However, a higher proportion of the 2024 candidates passed in Division 2 and above levels. Overall, 91.8% of candidates passed, compared to 88.0% in 2023.”
Prof. Celestino Obua, UNEB Chairperson, also noted significant improvements among Special Needs Education (SNE) candidates. “The results show that the 2024 SNE candidates, especially the deaf, have performed better. In 2023, 44% of this category were ungraded, but in 2024, the proportion dropped to 23%, a big improvement.”
While fewer candidates achieved Division 1, UNEB attributes the overall improvement in performance to efforts to enhance the quality of primary education across the country.
UNEB also observed that some schools registered normal pupils as special needs candidates. “They were hiding under the category of ‘Others’—pupils with health conditions such as asthma, epilepsy, and sickle cell anaemia,” Odongo explained.
“The Board recognizes that such candidates may experience health challenges during the examination period. However, they do not require any specialized assistance, except for the extra 45 minutes allowed to them,” he added.
