The Senior One selection exercise for candidates who sat the 2025 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) will be conducted on February 12 and 13, 2026, the Minister of Education and Sports and First Lady, Janet Kataaha Museveni, has announced.
Mrs Museveni announced on Friday while officially releasing the PLE 2025 results at State House, Nakasero, presiding over the ceremony in her capacity as the Education Minister.
She revealed that Term One for Senior One students will begin on March 2, 2026, and urged parents, schools and education officials to strictly observe learner privacy during the selection process in line with the Data Protection and Privacy Act.
“I remind all stakeholders to respect learner privacy as our children transition to the next level of their education journey,” Mrs Museveni said.
The First Lady congratulated all candidates who sat the examinations, noting that the majority were beneficiaries of the Universal Primary Education (UPE) programme, which has for over 30 years enabled children from disadvantaged backgrounds to complete primary education.
“With the renewed mandate of the NRM Government, UPE shall continue completely free of charge as a platform for foundational learning for all children in our homeland,” she said.
Mrs Museveni applauded the increased number of learners completing the primary education cycle and the reduction in school dropouts. She also welcomed improved completion rates among girls but expressed concern over a declining proportion of boys, calling for an evidence-based explanation to address the trend.
She further commended the inclusion of learners with special educational needs, noting that their performance when supported affirms government’s commitment to inclusive and equitable education.
On transition pathways, the Minister highlighted government investments in seed secondary schools and the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system, which have expanded options beyond the traditional Senior One route.
However, she raised concern over teacher absenteeism, warning that teachers who draw salaries while absent from duty undermine the education system.
“Teachers who continue to receive monthly pay from taxpayers’ money but are absent from duty must be asked to choose whether they want to remain in public service or exit altogether,” she said, tasking the Directorate of Education Standards to use technology to monitor teacher attendance and classroom instruction.
Meanwhile, the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) announced that parents and guardians can access PLE 2025 results via mobile phone by typing PLE, followed by a space and the candidate’s full index number, and sending it to 6600 on MTN or Airtel networks.
Mrs Museveni concluded by congratulating all candidates and wishing them God’s guidance as they prepare for Senior One selection and the next phase of their education.
