Kampala, Uganda — Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) Executive Director Dan Odongo has revealed that national examiners are paid rates that are “too low,” urging lawmakers to increase payments ahead of upcoming national examinations.
Odongo spoke before the Parliament’s Education and Sports Committee on February 18, 2026, as part of discussions around the 2026/27 National Budget Framework Paper. He said the current pay for exam markers does not reflect the demands and responsibilities involved in assessing national tests.
Examiners’ Pay Rates Highlighted
According to UNEB, markers of Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) scripts currently earn about UGX 720–756 per script — a rate Odongo noted was set nearly a decade ago and eroded by inflation. Those marking Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) scripts receive UGX 1,260 per paper and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) examiners are paid UGX 1,488 per script.
Odongo pointed out that these modest payments are insufficient even to purchase everyday items. “I like boiled groundnuts,” he told MPs, adding that the cost of a small portion in Kampala can exceed the amount paid to mark an entire script.
Calls for Funding Increase
UNEB is pushing for higher rates to better support examiners and invigilators. The board has proposed: raising the PLE rate to UGX 1,000 per script and increasing UCE examiner pay toward UGX 1,500 and UACE toward UGX 2,000, though the board acknowledged feasible budget limits.
Odongo also highlighted the need for higher allowances for invigilators, who currently receive about UGX 45,000 for the entire exam period — an amount he described as too low given transport and meals costs.
Funding and Examination Challenges
UNEB officials told MPs that the current rates were approved under previous curricula and do not align with the increased workload under newer assessment reforms. Parliament’s Budget Committee has noted the need to balance funding constraints with the sustainability of national examination systems.
The board’s request for additional funds comes as thousands of Ugandan candidates prepare to sit for the PLE, UCE, and UACE exams later this year — assessments that play a key role in students’ educational progression.
Odongo’s appeal adds to ongoing debates about resource allocation for education and the importance of fair compensation for professionals involved in the national exams marking process.
