The Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb) has announced that a staggering 108,492 out of 109,488 candidates who sat for the 2023 Uganda Advanced Certificate of Examinations (UACE) have passed, paving the way for their entrance into universities and tertiary institutions.
Uneb’s executive director, Dan Odongo, shared the exciting news during the release of the UACE results, highlighting the significant increase in the number of successful candidates compared to previous years. Out of the successful candidates, 52,452 students attained 3 Principal passes, 28,191 achieved 2 Principal passes, and 18,624 secured one principal pass. Additionally, 9,225 students passed with one subsidiary, while 996 unfortunately did not meet the passing criteria.
“The impressive performance of 99 per cent of the candidates qualifying for the UACE certificate is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our students,” stated Dan Odongo.
For admission into degree courses, the minimum requirement of 2 Principal level passes has been the standard. In this regard, 80,643 students (73.7%) meet this requirement, compared to 67,815 (70.3%) in the previous year. Odongo noted that there has been an overall improvement in performance, leading to a higher number of students eligible for university admission.
Furthermore, the statistics revealed an interesting trend in gender performance. Despite the lower number of female candidates compared to males, the female students performed exceptionally well, particularly in the upper pass levels (3P and 2P). Odongo emphasized that this has been a consistent trend over the past three years.
Uneb also observed a substantial increase in the number of candidates registered for the 2023 UACE examinations, with a total of 110,553 learners registering, marking a 12.9% increase from the previous year. Among these candidates, 47,226 (42.7%) were females, while 63,339 were male.
Highlighting the Universal Post O-Level Education and Training (UPOLET) programme, Odongo noted that 24,679 candidates (22.3%) were registered under this initiative, showing an increase from 17,321 (17.7%) in 2022. However, he pointed out that the majority of students at the UACE level are not under the universal education programme, particularly noting the lower number of females participating. This discrepancy may be attributed to the types of schools offering UACE education.
The impressive performance of Ugandan students in the 2023 UACE examinations not only reflects their academic prowess but also signals a promising future for higher education in the country. As these bright minds prepare to embark on their university journeys, they carry with them the hope of contributing significantly to Uganda’s development and progress.
