UACE: Performance drops as candidate numbers surge

A total of 98.8 percent of candidates who sat for the 2024 Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) exams passed, showing a slight decline in performance compared to 2023.

Releasing the results at State Lodge Nakasero on Friday March 14, 2025, Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) Executive Director, Mr Daniel Odongo, confirmed that 140,888 candidates out of 141,996 registered for the UACE turned up for the examination.

Of those who sat the exam, 139,256 candidates qualified for the UNEB UACE certificate after achieving at least a subsidiary pass in a principal subject.

In terms of overall performance, 54,338 candidates attained three principal passes, the highest possible achievement. This was followed by 37,985 who passed with two principal passes, 29,233 with one principal pass, and 17,750 with one subsidiary pass.

This means 98.8 percent of candidates passed the examination, compared to 99.2% in 2023, showing a slight reduction in performance. A total of 1,632 candidates failed the exam, compared to 865 in 2023.

Mr Odongo further noted that 92,274 candidates who passed the examination qualify to join universities. Traditionally, university admissions to degree courses have required at least two principal level passes as the minimum qualification.

“If this requirement is maintained, 92,273 candidates (65.5%) qualify for university admission, compared to 80,816 (73.8%) in 2023. This aligns with the significant increase in entries for the 2024 examination,” said Mr. Odongo.

He added, "An additional 11,457 university places must be made available to accommodate these candidates. If one principal pass and two subsidiary passes are accepted for admission to other tertiary institutions, 121,506 candidates (86.2%) will qualify."