The Ministry of Education has prohibited the public dissemination of UNEB results for candidates at all levels through media platforms.
In a circular dated May 7 addressed to heads of educational institutions, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Kedrace Turyagyenda, noted that despite previous warnings, there has been a continued trend of displaying individual candidates’ scores, result slips, and photographs across various public media and billboards.
“This practice is in violation of the Data Protection and Privacy Act, 2019,” Dr. Turyagyenda stated.
“During the release of the 2024 results for the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE), Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE), and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE), the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, cautioned Headteachers and Proprietors of Schools against publicizing candidates’ results. This directive is aligned with the Ministry’s commitment to safeguarding the privacy, dignity, and well-being of all learners, ensuring that academic achievements are handled with discretion in accordance with the law.”
The Permanent Secretary emphasized that school administrators have a duty to uphold and protect students’ rights and well-being.
“Publicizing examination results not only breaches legal provisions but also exposes learners and their families to undue stress, anxiety, and possible harassment or stigma. Such actions are deemed unlawful under Part VIII, Section 36 (1-2) of the Data Protection and Privacy Act, 2019, which prescribes penalties for noncompliance.”
Moving forward, the Ministry has instructed all schools to desist from using candidates’ examination results for advertising or promotional purposes.
“Schools are instead encouraged to showcase the holistic educational experience they offer, including extracurricular activities, community engagement, and institutional development initiatives,” said the Permanent Secretary.
“Ensure examination results are communicated privately to students and their parents/guardians through official channels, such as sealed school letters or secure digital platforms. Schools must refrain from displaying results on notice boards, social media platforms, or any other public forums.”
Dr. Turyagyenda added that, where applicable, schools may share general performance summaries without disclosing names or photographs of individual candidates.
