The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has released the 2024 Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) results, revealing an increase in the overall number of candidates passing but a decline in the percentage qualifying for university admission.
According to the official results, 98.8% of the candidates (139,256 out of 140,888) qualified for the UACE certificate by attaining at least a subsidiary level pass in a principal-level subject.
However, only 65.5% (92,273 candidates) met the university admission requirement of obtaining at least two principal passes, a drop from 73.8% (80,816 candidates) in 2023.
For admission to other tertiary institutions where one principal pass and two subsidiary passes are considered, 121,506 candidates (86.2%) will qualify.
In terms of overall performance, 54,338 candidates achieved the maximum of three principal passes, followed by 37,985 who earned two principal passes, 29,233 with one principal pass, and 17,750 who passed with only a subsidiary pass.
Despite the high pass rate, 1,632 candidates failed the examination after receiving Fs, marking an increase in failures compared to 865 in 2023.
UNEB Executive Director Dan Odongo noted that while there has been a proportional decline in pass percentages across different levels, the actual number of candidates passing has increased due to a higher number of exam takers.
The results were officially released by the Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Kataha Museveni, at the State Lodge Nakasero. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to enhance student performance, especially in meeting university entry requirements.
By Olivia Nabaggala
14th Mar 2025
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