National exam

Uganda: UCE and UACE

Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB)

Stage: Lower secondary (UCE) and upper secondary (UACE)
Grading: UACE principal subjects: A, B, C, D, E, O, F (worth 6 to 0 weighted points for public university entry). Subsidiary subjects such as General Paper count 1 point for a distinction or credit.

Key facts

UNEB sets the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE). The new lower secondary curriculum (competency-based) is examined at UCE, with UNEB publishing separate UCE timetables for it from 2024. (Source: Uganda National Examinations Board)
For public university entry, A-level subjects are weighed by relevance to the programme, and O-level (UCE) results add 0.3, 0.2 or 0.1 points per distinction, credit or pass. (Source: Ministry of Education & Sports, Uganda (published by Makerere University))
Applicants need at least two UACE principal passes at the same sitting. (Source: Ministry of Education & Sports, Uganda (published by Makerere University))

Each subject links to our global subject page, which shows the careers that rely on it.

The country where you apply decides how these results count. Official routes we have confirmed:

Kenya: Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA): alignment and validation
South Africa: Universities South Africa (USAf) Matriculation Board: exemption certificates
Nigeria: Federal Ministry of Education
United Kingdom: Universities, through UCAS

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