Minister Phyllis Chemutai told MPs that the supplementary examination system is susceptible to misuse and manipulation
The Minister of State for Education and Sports (Primary), Hon. Phyllis Chemutai, has clarified that the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) Act does not provide for supplementary national examinations.
She was responding to a matter of national importance that was raised by Hon. Andrew Kiiza (NUP, Kigulu County South) during the plenary sitting on Tuesday, 03 November 2026.
UNEB is conducting the 2026 national examinations including Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE), Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) and Kaluyu was concerned that some learners have missed the examinations due to unavoidable circumstances.
“According to UNEB’s 2025 report, approximately 14,000 learners did not sit for national examinations. These learners are faced by serious issues, despite having registered. Many consequently lose an entire academic year and eventually give up and abandon education,” Kaluya said.
Chemutai, however, said that supplementary examinations are neither practical, nor sustainable, given the amount of preparation required, as well as the mode of administering the exams.
“The Board [UNEB] advised that introducing such an arrangement would present significant challenges in the administration and management of national examinations,” Chemutai explained.
She added that a general supplementary examination system is susceptible to misuse and manipulation.
“It could encourage candidates to defer sitting examinations for reasons that do not warrant exceptional consideration, thereby undermining the predictability and orderly administration of national examinations,” she said.
The minister also highlighted the financial and administrative implications of conduction supplementary examinations, citing an example of UCE which she said would require a longer period comparable to that of regular examinations.
“The national examination calendar is already fully committed. Accommodating an additional examination cycle within the examination calendar will be extremely difficult,” said Chemutai.
The Speaker, Jacob Marksons Oboth, expressed dismay with the UNEB Act, saying that it is unfair for learners to miss exams due to reasons beyond human control. “Every law which has no exception is a sad one,” he said.
The Deputy Attorney General, Jackson Kafuuzi, guided that the law can be amended, adding that the budgetary shortfalls can also be addressed.
“The Minister’s statement speaks to the budget; she seems to say the adjustments will eat into the budget. But those adjustments can be made to accommodate exceptions and a timeframe outlined for the supplementary examinations,” Kafuuzi said-Ug. Parliament. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
