We’re the future of tomorrow,” students are told. But in Uganda, that future is shaped by an unhealthy obsession with grades. Schools, parents, and institutions place enormous value on UNEB results, marks that too often fail to reflect real skills or workplace readiness.
For years, Uganda’s education system has measured success through national exam scores. Yet these numbers rarely translate into meaningful outcomes beyond the classroom.
The old curriculum, now being phased out, prioritised rote memorisation over practical skills, producing graduates skilled in ‘cramming’ but ill-equipped for the demands of workplaces. While subjects like Agriculture, Chemistry, Biology, and Arts offered some practical components, the system largely rewarded students for following instructions and regurgitating information, leaving little room for critical thinking, creativity, or problem-solving skills essential for a productive member of society.
This focus on grades has fuelled a capitalistic culture in Ugandan schools, where students are treated as customers and, increasingly, as marketing tools. Schools, particularly in urban areas, have turned national exam results into a business strategy.
Upon receiving UNEB results, these primary and secondary schools print large banners at their entrances and along roadsides, produce brochures, and run television and radio advertisements showcasing their top performers. These displays are designed to attract parents eager to enrol their children in “high-performing” schools, at the expense of students’ privacy and by marginalising those whose results don’t qualify to be displayed. The logic is simple: more students, more money. However, this turned education into a commodity and exacerbated cheating, as schools resort to unethical means to maintain their reputation for producing top grades, grades that often don’t translate into competence in workplaces.
It’s a real shocker when a parent who never made it past primary school can manage a successful business in downtown Kampala, while their child, armed with a business degree, struggles to do the same. This disconnect raises questions about what the education system in Uganda truly prepares students for. Mere marks?
It’s no surprise that Examination malpractices have become a pervasive issue in Uganda’s education system. Reports tracing back to 2006 and earlier highlight cases of collusion between headteachers, invigilators, and even UNEB scouts, with some schools going as far as purchasing examination papers in advance to ensure their students have answers before the exams start. These practices reveal a system where the pressure to achieve high marks drives schools to prioritise results over integrity.
The public display of UNEB results has been a key driver of this toxic cycle, where marks define the school and students’ worth. Moreover, the emphasis on grades has marginalised students who excel in non-academic areas like Football in sports and Music in creative arts, reinforcing the notion that success is measured solely by exam performance.
In response to these challenges, the Ministry of Education and Sports, led by Hon. Janet Kataha Museveni, issued a landmark directive on May 7, 2025, titled “BAN ON PUBLICATION OF CANDIDATES’ NATIONAL EXAMINATION RESULTS IN THE MEDIA.” The directive prohibits the public display of individual UNEB examination results.
Citing the Data Protection and Privacy Act of 2019, the ministry warned schools against publishing students’ scores, result slips, or photographs in the media, as such actions violate students’ privacy rights. This UNEB Examination results display ban, announced through a circular to “All Heads of Institutions of Learning, All Proprietors of Private Schools and Institutions,” was signed by Dr. Kedrace Turyagyenda, PS MoEs, and stated;
“The Ministry of Education and Sports has noted with concern the continued publication of Uganda National Examinations results, specifically individual candidates’ scores, result slips, and photographs across various public media channels and billboards. This practice is in violation of the Data Protection and Privacy Act, 2019.
During the release of the 2024 results for the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE), Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE), and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE), the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports cautioned Headteachers and Proprietors of Schools against publicising candidates’ results. This directive is aligned with the Ministry’s commitment to safeguarding the privacy, dignity, and well-being of all learners, ensuring that academic achievements are handled with discretion in accordance with the law.
As Educational Leaders, it is your responsibility to uphold and protect the rights and welfare of students. Publicising examination results not only breaches legal provisions but also exposes learners and their families to undue stress, anxiety, and possible harassment or stigma. Such actions are deemed unlawful under Part VIII, Section 36 (1-2) of the Data Protection and Privacy Act, 2019, which prescribes penalties for non-compliance.
To mitigate these risks, all schools are directed to comply with the following guidelines:
- Avoid using candidates’ examination results for advertising or marketing purposes.
Schools are instead encouraged to showcase the holistic educational experience they offer, including extracurricular activities, community engagement, and institutional development initiatives. - Ensure examination results are communicated privately
to students and their parents/guardians through official channels, such as sealed school letters or secure digital platforms. Schools must refrain from displaying results on notice boards, social media platforms, or any other public forums. - Continuously sensitise key stakeholders
(including staff, students, parents/guardians, and governing bodies) on the importance of maintaining confidentiality regarding examination results, and the negative implications of public disclosure.
Where necessary, a general performance summary may be shared without revealing names or photographs of individual candidates.
All Headteachers of Private Schools are specifically urged to enforce this directive diligently as part of their obligation to the Ministry. Any Head of School found in breach of this guidance will be subject to stern disciplinary action.
The purpose of this circular is twofold, to:
- To reaffirm the Ministry’s position on the matter, in accordance with the law, best interest of learners’ privacy and well-being.
- To guide all education institutions on the appropriate handling and communication of national examination results.
This ban has sparked mixed reactions. Some stakeholders view it as a necessary step to restore fairness and privacy in education, while others argue it may limit transparency or hinder schools’ ability to celebrate academic achievements. Critics of the old system, including education experts like Dr. Lawrence Muganga, have long called for broader reforms, such as abolishing UNEB exams altogether to shift the focus from grades to competencies. They argue that the current system fails to foster independent thinking and perpetuates a culture of “purchasing grades” through malpractices. Meanwhile, UNEB’s efforts to combat cheating, including withholding results of suspected candidates and proposing a specialised court for malpractice cases, signal a commitment to restoring credibility.
Please consider joining our WhatsApp Channel
