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The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has added 15 minutes to the duration of the History and Political Education paper in the ongoing 2026 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations. In a circular to secondary school head teachers, the Board directed examination centres to immediately inform invigilators and candidates about the change.
“UNEB hereby notifies all headteachers of secondary schools that the duration of 141/1 History and Political Education has been revised from 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes,” the circular reads in part. The paper is scheduled for the afternoon session on the second day of the examinations, following English Language in the morning.
The previous timetable allocated 2 hours and 15 minutes to the paper, the same duration provided in last year’s examinations. However, UNEB had not explained the reason for the adjustment by the time of publication. Meanwhile, the second day of the examinations opened smoothly in several parts of the country, with school administrators and examination supervisors reporting timely delivery of materials and no major disruptions.
In Oyam District, examinations started without incident despite an early morning downpour that lasted several hours. Patrick Gira, the head teacher of Abok Seed School, described the weather as “dull but not rainy.”
At Acaba Secondary School, head teacher Simon Okeng said examination materials had been collected early enough despite the school’s high enrolment. Godfrey Osenda, the head teacher of Atapara Secondary School, also reported a routine start to the examinations.
Across the Teso sub-region, district education officials and examination supervisors reported that the exercise was progressing smoothly. Francis Ebenu, the area supervisor for Station 003 in Kumi District, said all examination materials for the first week had been received and distributed to the seven examination centres under his supervision. In Bukedea District, District Education Officer Stephen Okurut said his office was monitoring schools to ensure that all registered candidates were allowed to sit the examinations, regardless of outstanding school fees.
“So far, Bukedea schools have accepted our plea for both government and private schools that all the students should be allowed to sit for exams even if they have not cleared fees. We are monitoring seriously to ensure no defects are in this examination,” Okurut said.
Meanwhile, confusion over the packaging of answer booklets in some examination centres under Arua Main has been resolved. On the first day, schools, including Nile High School in Arua City, raised concerns over what appeared to be a shortage after candidates received two answer booklets each. The concern arose from a new packaging method introduced by UNEB, under which the booklets are packed in pairs.
Area Supervisor Matua Eliakim said the affected schools had since been guided on how to handle the booklets, which are packaged in pairs but must be issued to candidates individually. “Examinations started well without many challenges, but the only confusion was over the packaging of answer booklets, which was resolved after schools raised concerns about the number of booklets. The issue was addressed, and we are hopeful that the examinations will continue well,” he said.
In Arua and other parts of West Nile, candidates and teachers expressed greater confidence as the second day of the examinations began under clearer skies, following heavy overnight rain that disrupted the start of papers on the first day. Most schools reported that examinations started on time. However, at Oleba Seed Secondary School in Maracha District, two of the 201 registered candidates missed their papers on the first day.
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