The 2025 Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) officially begins today, October 31, with a briefing of the candidates. The actual sitting of the exams will take place on November 3 and November 4.
The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) said a total of 817,885 pupils have registered to sit the exams, an increase of 2.5% from last year.
Of these, 389,529 (48%) are boys and 428,356 (52%) are girls. Some 295,846 (36%) are from schools under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) programme, while 61 are inmates from Upper Prison School Luzira.
The exam body said it had made special arrangements for pupils with disabilities. This includes: Braille papers for 33 blind candidates; large print papers for 620 candidates with low vision; sign language interpreters for 300 deaf candidates and extra time and support staff for 1,879 pupils with dyslexia and other needs.
UNEB said over 59,890 people, including monitors, scouts, and security personnel, have been deployed nationwide to ensure the exams run smoothly and fairly.
The body warned against any form of cheating. Anyone caught helping pupils cheat could face up to five years in prison or a fine of Shs 20 million. It said sharing fake exam papers online is also a crime, with penalties up to Shs 40 million or imprisonment.
UNEB’s executive director, Dan Odongo, thanked teachers and invigilators for their hard work. He urged local leaders, parents, and schools to avoid any malpractice.
“The PLE is a key step in a child’s future. We must keep it fair,” he said.
Odongo said candidates are expected to arrive at exam centres at least 30 minutes early. They are supposed to bring only blue or black ink pens. Pencils will only be used for drawings. Mobile phones are fobidden.
He encouraged all candidates to stay calm and confident. “Study hard, follow the rules, and trust in your preparation,” he said.
