The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has officially released the 2024 Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) examination results today at State House Nakasero. The event, presided over by the Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Museveni, marks the final phase of the 2024 national examination results rollout, following the earlier releases of the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) and Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) results.
A total of 142,009 candidates registered for the 2024 UACE exams, a significant increase of 28.4% from the 110,579 candidates in 2023. Of these, 140,888 candidates sat for the examinations across 2,634 centers nationwide, with 61,598 females (43.7%) and 79,290 males (56.3%). This represents a near exponential growth in candidature, as noted by UNEB Chairperson Prof. Celestino Obua. The exams were conducted from November 11 to December 6, 2024, under the traditional curriculum, distinct from the new competency-based curricula introduced at the UCE level.
Performance statistics reveal that 98.8% of candidates (139,256) qualified for the award of the UACE certificate, a slight decrease from 99.2% in 2023. Of those who sat, 54,338 candidates (38.6%) achieved three principal passes, with 26,928 females and 27,410 males. Additionally, 37,935 candidates (26.9%) obtained two principal passes, comprising 16,962 females and 20,973 males. A further 29,233 candidates (20.8%) secured one principal pass, with 11,058 females and 18,175 males, while 17,750 candidates (12.6%) earned one subsidiary pass, including 6,212 females and 11,538 males. Only 1,632 candidates (1.2%) failed the examination, with 438 females and 1,194 males, indicating a lower failure rate among females.
UNEB Executive Director Mr. Daniel Odongo reported that female candidates outperformed their male counterparts proportionally at all levels, despite being fewer in number. Females showed a lower failure rate (0.7% of female candidates versus 1.5% of male candidates) and excelled particularly in Humanities subjects. In the Sciences, males generally performed better, except in Physics, where females outshone males. However, participation in Mathematics and Science combinations remains low among female candidates, a trend UNEB continues to monitor.
The 2024 UACE exams recorded the lowest number of malpractice cases compared to PLE and UCE, with very few results withheld, reflecting improved security measures. Of the total candidates, 80,643 (57.2%) achieved the minimum requirement of two principal passes for university admission, an increase from 67,815 in 2023. When considering one principal pass and two subsidiary passes for other tertiary institutions, 90.7% of candidates qualify, consistent with the previous year.
The results are based on a grading system where a principal pass ranges from A (6 points) to E (1 point), and candidates need at least two principal passes in relevant subjects for university entry. Students and schools can access results via the UNEB eReg portal or SMS by typing “UACE” followed by the candidate’s index number and sending it to 6600. The increase in candidature—part of a broader 7.8% rise across all 2024 national exams (1,320,400 candidates)—underscores growing participation in Uganda’s education system.
This year’s results highlight both progress and challenges, with UNEB calling for efforts to boost enrollment in Mathematics and Sciences to meet tertiary education demands. The education sector now looks to these 140,888 candidates as they transition to higher education or vocational pathways.
