The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has officially released the results of the 2024 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) today, Thursday, January 23. A total of 797,444 candidates from 14,883 schools registered for the exams, marking an increase from 749,347 candidates in 2023. Among these, 524,025 candidates (65.7%) were beneficiaries of the Universal Primary Education (UPE) program, while 273,419 candidates (34.3%) attended non-UPE schools.

Notably, the 2024 PLE results show a better overall performance compared to the previous year. A higher percentage of candidates, 91.8%, passed the examinations, an improvement from the 88.0% pass rate recorded in 2023. However, there was a slight decline in the number of candidates achieving Division 1 grades. Most candidates passed at the Division 2 level.

In terms of gender, 418,750 girls (52.5%) registered for the exams, outnumbering the 378,709 boys (47.5%) and highlighting a significant achievement in female participation in primary education.

The 2024 examinations also included candidates from correctional facilities. Luzira Upper Prison registered 71 candidates (70 males and 1 female), while 37 candidates—all male—sat for their exams at Mbarara Main Prison. UNEB Executive Director Dan Odongo noted the expanding role of the Uganda Prisons Service in providing educational opportunities for inmates, with more branches such as Mbarara joining the initiative that Luzira started.