The Uganda National Examination Board (UNEB) released the 2025 Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) results on Friday, revealing an overall improvement in performance and an increase in the number of candidates attaining Division One compared to previous years.
On Friday, January 30, 2026, UNEB Executive Director Dan Odongo announced that a total of 817,838 candidates registered for the 2025 PLE across 15,388 examination centres nationwide.
This represents a 2.6% increase from the 797,444 candidates registered in 2024. Of these, 807,313 candidates took the examination, with the absentee rate remaining low at 1.3%, comparable to the previous year.
Addressing the Minister of Education and Sports before she officially released the results, Odongo reported that 91,990 candidates passed in Division One, marking an increase of 7,689 candidates from the previous year024.
Overall, 7,503 more candidates passed the examination in 2025, indicating steady progress in learning outcomes across the country.
He added that an analysis by gender shows female candidates continued to dominate registration, accounting for 54.4% of candidates—a persistent trend reflecting improved retention of girls in primary education.
However, in terms of performance, boys slightly outperformed girls overall, with a higher proportion in Divisions One and Two and a lower failure rate.
The UNEB ED, Odongo, praised teachers, parents, examiners, and security personnel for their dedication and resilience, emphasising that the 2025 PLE reflects growing stability in Uganda’s assessment system and the gradual adoption of competency-based learning.
In the Lango sub-region, Daylight Nursery and Boarding Primary School in Lira City shone as the top performer in the 2025 PLE results.
The school produced two candidates who scored an aggregate of 4 in all four subjects. Head teacher Santos Angol, addressed the media while pupils, teachers and parents celebrated. He revealed that 56 candidates sat for the exams last year.
Among the top candidates who excelled in the entire Lango sub-region from Daylight Nursery and Primary School are Okwada Jesse, aged 15, and Okwir Michael Caesar, who both managed to score an aggregate of 4.
“As a school, we are very progressive in these good results,” said Angol.
Denis Okello, the Managing Director of the school, said the school was established in 2011 with only 27 pupils but currently has a total enrollment of 1,200. Okello added that this was their fifth time sitting for UNEB exams, noting a consistent rise in Division One passes:
“We got 3 candidates in Division One initially, followed by 14, then 24 in 2023, and last year in 2024 we managed to get 44 in Division One. I now encourage all parents to avail themselves of their children for better learning.”
At St. Gracious Schools Lira, Principal Leo Elem reported that St. Gracious Boarding Primary School managed to get 49 candidates in Division One out of 50 who sat.
Meanwhile, at St. Gracious Day Nursery and Primary Campus, 57 out of 90 candidates passed in Division One, with 33 attaining Division Two. The top candidate was Gloria Acen, with an aggregate of 5.
Elem thanked all teachers, parents, and pupils for their wonderful work in securing a victorious 2025 PLE result. He also appreciated the Managing Director, Dr Patrick Olet, for his massive support in moving the school forward.
Among other private schools, Lira Central Nursery Day and Primary School in Lira City saw 67 of its 80 candidates score Division One, with 13 in Division Two. Head teacher Tom Okwir noted an improvement from 2024, when 108 candidates sat and 88 passed in Division One.
“This is not even enough; come 2026, we expect more good results, although girls have beaten boys this time,” he added.
Under government-aided primary schools, Adyel Boarding Nursery and Primary School topped Lira City with 49 candidates in Division One, followed by 100 in Division Two, meaning no candidates scored in Divisions Three or Four. Head teacher Isaac Otoa thanked parents for their trust.
Otoa stated that their best candidate for 2025 was Amuko Joshua, who got an aggregate 5, followed by Ogwal Brian with an aggregate 6. The best girl was Akello Gloria Picar, who managed an aggregate of 8.
He acknowledged a significant decline compared to the 2024 results, where they had 83 in Division One and 64 in Division Two.
“Poor performance in both SST and Science subjects was a factor, with the worst candidate scoring an aggregate of 20. I want to assure the public that all years are not the same,” Otoa said. The school has 1,783 learners and was number one in the 2024 results.
At VH Public School, out of 121 candidates who sat in 2025, 40 passed in Division One, 80 in Division Two, and one candidate in Division Three. Head teacher Jacob Odur cited challenges due to the nationwide teachers’ strike during the examination period as a likely cause for the performance.
The school has a total of 1,436 learners and 30 teachers on the government payroll.
In Aber Primary school, Oyam South, two pupils got Division One, and 33 in Division Two. Sixteen (16) candidates obtained Division Three.
Among the best performers are Okello Oscar (10), Otim Brian (12); Oling Philips (13), Ocen Innocent (14), among others.
In the 2024 PLE, Aber Primary School recorded no Division One. The best candidate that year got Division Two.
Discover more from tndNews, Uganda
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.