The Ministry of Education and Sports has directed all schools to allow UNEB-registered candidates with outstanding school fees and charges to sit their end-of-cycle examinations.
The directive was issued on October 13, 2026, by the Acting Minister of Education and Sports, following reports that some schools are denying candidates access to examinations over unpaid fees.
Education Ministry Spokesperson Dr. Dennis K. Mugimba said the directive is anchored in the Education (Pre-Primary, Primary, and Post-Primary) Act, 2008.
“Under Section 3(1) of the Act, the Minister responsible for Education and Sports shall ensure that national policies and objectives as enshrined in the Constitution are implemented and observed at all levels of Education. Under Section 3(2)(a), without prejudice to the general duties of the Minister, the Minister shall, from time to time, initiate policies and reforms of education as need arises,” Mugimba quoted.
He said the Acting Minister has now directed that no UNEB-registered candidate should be blocked from sitting exams.
“Any UNEB-registered candidate must be allowed to sit his or her end-of-cycle exams irrespective of whether he or she has any outstanding school fees or charges owed to the respective school,” Mugimba stated.
According to Mugimba, headteachers will be responsible for officially communicating to Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) particulars of candidates who sit exams before clearing fees, to enable UNEB to withhold their results.
“It is the responsibility of the respective headteacher to officially communicate to UNEB the particulars of candidates who have sat their end-of-cycle exams before clearing outstanding school fees or charges to enable UNEB withhold the results of such candidates,” he said.
Mugimba further clarified that once a candidate clears outstanding dues, it is the headteacher’s duty to formally inform UNEB to release the results.
“It is the responsibility of the responsible headteacher to formally inform UNEB when to release the results of any candidate whose results had been withheld on account of non-payment of outstanding school fees or charges by the time the student sat his or her UNEB end-of-cycle exams,” he explained.
He added that no penalty should be imposed on candidates who sit exams before clearing fees.
“The payment of any outstanding school fees or charges by UNEB-registered candidates who were allowed to sit their end-of-cycle exams prior to settling such dues shall not incur any penalty or fee,” Mugimba stressed.
He said the directive has been communicated to the media, school proprietors and foundation bodies, chairpersons of School Management Committees and Boards of Governors, headteachers, education administrators at all levels of government, and the Executive Director of UNEB.
