UNEB Spokesperson Jennifer Kalule
The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has explained the circumstances under which it withheld the 2025 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examination results of 176 candidates from St. Gracious Secondary School, citing ongoing review processes.
UNEB released the 2025 UCE results last week for hundreds of thousands of candidates nationwide. However, results from several schools were withheld due to various concerns, including suspected examination malpractice. St. Gracious SS is among the affected institutions.
Speaking to Kampala Gazette, UNEB spokesperson Jennifer Kalule said it is too early to conclusively determine whether the school engaged in malpractice.
“At this stage, we cannot say for certain that malpractice took place,” Kalule said.
She explained that UNEB examiners noticed unusual similarities in how candidates attempted specific questions, a pattern that raised concerns about possible external assistance during the examination.
“These similarities triggered a red flag, which is why the results were withheld pending further investigation,” she noted.
Kalule said the school’s management will be formally invited to appear before UNEB to provide an explanation as part of the established review and hearing process.
“I can’t give a specific date for the hearing because, at the moment, we are still handling cases arising from the Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE),” she added.
She also urged the school administration to engage parents and candidates, stressing the importance of emotional support during the waiting period.
“We appeal to the school to talk to parents and candidates. This period can be stressful, and we do not want learners to be harmed emotionally or otherwise,” Kalule said.
UNEB has repeatedly emphasized that withholding results does not automatically amount to guilt and that schools are given an opportunity to defend themselves before any final decision is made.
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