UCE 2025: How day one fared in Kamuli as schools heed to UNEB plea on fees defaulters

Kamuli, Uganda: The 2025 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations kicked off smoothly across Kamuli District, with headteachers giving concessions to candidates who have not yet completed their school fees, whilst urging parents to pay in installments to ensure results are not withheld.

Ms Oliver Nambi, the Kamuli District UNEB Supervisor, told DailyExpress on Monday afternoon that all examination centers within the district opened on time with no manpower gaps reported despite the recent teachers’ strike.

“The exams have kicked off well, organized and in time. Though a few candidates have not turned up for exams, UNEB officers are doing their work diligently,” Nambi said.

She commended the cooperation between headteachers, parents, and UNEB officials for ensuring a peaceful and well-organized start to the national exams, adding that the ongoing industrial action by arts teachers did not disrupt the UNEB exercise since examiners and invigilators were well facilitated to perform their duties.

At Central College Kamuli, Elizabeth Chekemoi, an S.4 candidate for the UCE examinations, expressed optimism after completing her first paper, saying it was well-set and aligned with the syllabus. “The first paper was not bad. The questions were fair and the photos were colored, which made them clear — we expect good results,” she said.

Meanwhile, Mr Saleh Isabirye, headteacher of Kabukye Muslim Secondary School, noted that his school had reached a mutual understanding with parents to facilitate teachers despite the ongoing strike. “We agreed with parents to contribute towards teacher facilitation, and that ensured students didn’t miss out,” he explained.

Nambi also confirmed that rain did not disrupt any exam centers, and headteachers continued to return completed papers and collect subsequent ones from Kamuli Central Police Station (CPS) without delay.