A record 920,833 candidates are expected to sit the 2026 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE), which begin on Tuesday, November 3, with the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) urging pupils to remain focused and avoid last-minute coaching.
The number represents a 12.5% increase compared to candidates who registered for last year’s examinations, reflecting continued growth in enrolment at the primary school level.
According to UNEB, candidates will begin with Mathematics in the morning session on Tuesday, followed by Social Studies and Religious Education in the afternoon.
The examinations will continue on Wednesday, November 4, with Integrated Science scheduled for the morning and English in the afternoon, marking the end of the two-day assessment.
Female candidates account for 52.7% of the registered candidates, while the majority of those sitting the examinations are enrolled in government-aided schools.
In a communication issued ahead of the examinations, UNEB advised candidates against engaging in last-minute coaching, encouraging them instead to rely on their preparations and personal revision.
The examinations body has also deployed monitors and other personnel to oversee the exercise and ensure compliance with examination regulations.
The start of PLE will coincide with the conclusion of the 2026 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations. According to UNEB, UCE candidates will sit ICT Theory on Tuesday morning, followed by selected foreign language papers in the afternoon.
Several leaders and media organisations have also sent messages of encouragement to candidates, urging them to remain confident, disciplined and calm as they undertake the examinations.
PLE is a key national assessment that determines the transition of primary school pupils to secondary education.
