At least 84.4 per cent of candidates who sat the May/June 2026 Technical and Vocational Education and Training assessment acquired full competences, results released Wednesday show.
According to the Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board (UVTAB), 14,382 of the 17,038 candidates who sat the assessment at both diploma and certificate levels attained full competence.
Of those, 6,268 were female and 8,114 male. Majority, 10,641, offered National Diploma programmes while 4,875 offered National Certificate programmes.
The performance marks an improvement from 2025, when 81 per cent attained full competence.
“Of the 17,038 candidates who sat for the assessment, 84.4 percent acquired full competences. Comparing to the general performance of May/June 2025 where 6,955 candidates acquired full competences, there is a 3 percentage point improvement. We congratulate all the candidates, parents/guardians and other stakeholders,” UVTAB Executive Secretary Onesmus Oyesigye said.
He was speaking during the release of results at UVTAB’s assessment centre in Kyambogo, Kampala, on September 16.
Oyesigye said 2,656 candidates acquired partial competences and are free to retake the assessment until they achieve full competences.
A total of 17,262 candidates registered for the end-of-programme assessment held between May 15 and June 12, of whom 7,536 (44 per cent) were female and 9,726 (56 per cent) male.
Of the registered candidates, 12,385 registered for National Diploma programmes and 4,877 for National Certificate programmes. Some 17,038 sat the exams at 260 centres, representing a 99 per cent attendance rate.
“The number of registered candidates increased from 8,629 in 2025 to 17,262 in 2026, representing a 61 percent increase in registration,” Oyesigye said.
The fields assessed include Technology, Business, Home Science and Agriculture Education and Training.
Technology had the largest male participation at 77.8 per cent (7,042 males against 2,008 females), while Business and Home Science were dominated by females at 73.2 per cent and 75.5 per cent respectively. Agriculture was fairly balanced at 58.4 per cent male and 41.6 per cent female.
UVTAB Board Chairperson Assoc Prof Dorothy Okello said there is a steady increase in female enrollment and improved performance.
“This is a vital step towards ensuring TVET becomes a pathway of opportunities for all Ugandans irrespective of gender,” she said.
She said the Board has operationalised guidelines for assessment of candidates with special needs and refugees.
A total of 60 candidates with special needs registered, with 57 (24 female, 33 male) turning up for assessment. Candidates with visual impairment and albinism were the largest category with 23, followed by physical disabilities with 14.
Okello said the Board has reviewed 22 Assessment Training Packages and 31 curricula, comprising 18 Technology, 12 Business and 1 Home Science programme, under the competence-based curriculum.
Acting Education Minister Dr John Chrysostom Muyingo said government’s priority is to skill all Ugandans through various TVET providers, including industry-based providers.
He said additional regulations were gazetted to strengthen TVET governance, including the TVET Regulations 2026 on admission and administration of both public and private providers.
He encouraged those who did not acquire full competences to return and re-sit.
The release was attended by various stakeholders, including UNEB Executive Director Dan Odongo.