The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has issued a final, urgent call to schools, parents, and guardians to ensure all eligible candidates are registered for the 2026 national examinations before the normal registration window slams shut at midnight tonight, June 30, 2026.
The deadline affects all three tiers of Uganda’s national education assessment: the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE), the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE), and the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE).
According to a statement released on Monday by UNEB’s Principal Public Relations Officer, Ms. Jennifer Kalule Musamba, registration is only considered complete once the required invoice has been fully cleared by the school.
“This is therefore to remind all concerned parties to ensure that the learners in candidate classes are all duly registered, so that no learner is left out,” Ms Kalule urged.
Failing to meet tonight’s deadline will prove costly for parents and schools. A month-long late registration window will open on July 1 and run until July 31, but it carries heavy financial penalties. Late registration attracts a 100% surcharge for PLE candidates and a 50% surcharge for UCE and UACE candidates.
Exam Level
Normal Fee (UGX)
Late Fee + Surcharge (UGX)
Surcharge Rate
PLE
Shs 34,000
Shs 68,000
100%
UCE
Shs 164,000
Shs 246,000
50%
UACE
Shs 186,000
Shs 279,000
50%
UNEB has firmly stated that no further registration will be validated at any level after July 31.
This year’s registration figures show a significant surge in student enrollment. So far, a total of 1,584,519 candidates have been registered across all three levels. This represents a substantial increase from 2025, which saw 1,372,015 candidates register.
A breakdown of the 2026 data shows that primary school candidates dominate the numbers, with 910,774 (57.4%) registered for PLE. Meanwhile, UCE candidates stand at 479,681 (30.2%), and UACE has recorded 194,064 candidates (12.2%).
Ms. Kalule also provided critical guidance for candidates needing to transfer between examination centers due to valid circumstances. She emphasized that such transfers can only be processed directly by the UNEB registration office. To do so, official written permission must be secured from the UNEB Executive Director, alongside explanatory letters from the releasing school and acceptance letters from the hosting center.
Stakeholders seeking further clarification or assistance are advised to contact the UNEB registration office directly through their official line at 041-777-3100, or via their toll-free customer helplines at 0800-211-077 and 0800-111-427.