“We have prepared these learners in the best way possible, and I believe what they are going to produce will be the best and they are going to give us the best results.”
The first cohort of Senior Six students under Uganda’s competency-based curriculum began their UACE examinations on Monday, with candidates in Mukono expressing confidence in their preparation and optimism about securing good results.
The examinations mark a major milestone in Uganda’s education reforms, as the pioneer cohort puts the new curriculum to the test for the first time at A-level.
By mid-morning, candidates at examination centres across the district had been sitting their papers for about three hours, with Mathematics among the first subjects on the timetable.
At Mukono Police Station, the designated distribution point for examination materials, teachers arrived early to collect the papers before proceeding to their respective schools.
Area Supervisor Constantine Mpuuga, accompanied by the head of the scouts, addressed the teachers before the release of the examination materials, cautioning them against interfering with the examination process.
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Mpuuga urged teachers to allow supervisors and invigilators to perform their duties without obstruction to ensure the smooth conduct of the examinations.
At St. Stephen’s Senior Secondary School in Ddandira, Mukono Central Division, the atmosphere was one of optimism as candidates settled into their papers, marking a historic milestone for the school and the country’s education system.
Lwanika Daniel, the school’s examinations head and Director of Studies, described the day as significant, noting that the candidates were the first full cohort to sit the A-level examinations under the competency-based curriculum.
“Today we are beginning our papers for the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education exams that are for Senior Six. It is the first cohort that is sitting the new curriculum, the competency-based exams,” Lwanika said.
“We have prepared these learners in the best way possible, and I believe what they are going to produce will be the best and they are going to give us the best results.”
He thanked parents for supporting their children’s welfare, teachers for their dedication and the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC) for guiding the school through the transition to the new curriculum.
Lwanika said the school was starting with History and Mathematics, while Chemistry practical examinations were scheduled for Tuesday.
However, he acknowledged that unpaid school fees remained a major challenge, with some candidates having outstanding balances.
“We have candidates who are defaulters. It is a big challenge. I know parents are also complaining… everybody in Uganda is complaining,” he said.
He explained that the school had engaged parents, agreed on payment plans with some families and allowed all registered candidates to sit the examinations despite outstanding fees.
The candidates, meanwhile, expressed a mixture of excitement, gratitude and confidence, crediting their teachers and parents for helping them reach the examination stage.
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They said the school’s preparation programmes, including seminars, inter-school discussions and continuous assessments, had equipped them with the knowledge and confidence needed to tackle the examinations.
Nasango Sarah Senungi, a science candidate offering Physics, Economics and Mathematics with subsidiary Information and Communication Technology (ICT), said he was confident about the examinations because of the support and preparation provided by the school.
He said he was starting with Mathematics Papers One and Two and hoped to attain an ‘A’ grade.
“Personally, I’m starting with Mathematics, Paper One in the morning and Paper Two in the evening. I’m privileged to say that we are prepared and everything is set. Hopefully, by the end of today, God being by our side, we shall be able to score an A from Mathematics,” he said.
Webulu Mastulah, who offers Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics, described the start of the examinations as an emotional moment, thanking God, her parents and teachers for helping her reach the milestone.
“I’m excited because God has enabled us to have reached our day. I feel like crying. I want to take this opportunity to thank my parents and our teachers who have enabled us to reach this point,” she said.
For Mugema Simon Peter, the examinations marked a moment of gratitude after overcoming personal and financial challenges during his studies.
Mugema thanked his teachers and school administrators for allowing him to sit the examinations despite outstanding school fees.
Mugema also recalled a health scare in Senior Four when his blood pressure suddenly dropped, forcing him to seek hospital treatment. He said overcoming the experience and reaching the examination stage had strengthened his gratitude.
Other candidates, including Mugwanya Richard and Nambi Vivian, also expressed confidence and excitement about finally sitting their A-level examinations.
Mugwanya credited seminars, discussions and continuous assessments for preparing them, while Nambi said she had waited for the day for years.
The smooth start in Mukono reflected the optimism surrounding the first cohort of candidates sitting the UACE examinations under the competency-based curriculum, with school administrators and learners expressing confidence that their preparations would translate into good results.
The examinations mark another milestone in Uganda’s education reforms, which place greater emphasis on learners’ ability to apply knowledge, demonstrate practical skills and solve real-life problems.
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