The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) is reconsidering its compensation model for examiners after a protest in December 2024 over low pay. Among the proposed changes is a requirement for examiners to reside in designated facilities throughout the marking period.

James Kubeketerya, Chairperson of Parliament’s Education Committee, shared these developments during a Budget Committee session while presenting recommendations on the 2025/26 Budget Framework Paper for the Education and Sports sector.

“The Committee learned that approximately 100 examiners left their posts during the marking of O-Level exams, particularly in science subjects, which caused significant disruptions. UNEB now intends to implement changes to address these concerns,” Kubeketerya stated.

To improve working conditions, the Committee has recommended an additional UGX 6.57 billion to cater to meals, utilities, medical care, and accommodation for examiners. It has also proposed increasing the marking fee from UGX 28,000 to UGX 35,000 per unit.

The December protests stemmed from concerns over the low per-script payment of UGX 950 for Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examiners. The striking markers demanded a raise to at least UGX 1,500 per script, citing the increased workload under the revised lower secondary curriculum.

Although UNEB Executive Director Dan Odongo acknowledged the examiner walkout, he assured that marking proceeded as scheduled. Despite the absence of 100 physics and 50 agriculture examiners, over 400 others remained to complete the process.

The Education Committee has urged the Ministry of Finance to allocate an additional UGX 4.85 billion to increase examiner fees and attract more qualified markers. Currently, only UGX 10.15 billion has been allocated, falling short of the UGX 15 billion requested.

“The Ministry must prioritize an additional UGX 4.85 billion to ensure examiner remuneration is competitive,” Kubeketerya emphasized.

Beyond examiner pay, UNEB is also seeking UGX 8.45 billion to support transportation for examiners, invigilators, and supervisors, alongside UGX 2.66 billion for enhanced security during the examination process.

Kubeketerya further noted that UNEB requires UGX 6.5 billion to facilitate assessments under the new lower secondary curriculum, which involves ongoing evaluation from Senior One to Senior Six. The competence-based approach demands continuous assessment and field visits, making it financially demanding.

Additionally, the Committee proposed an extra UGX 5.86 billion to assess the abridged Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) curriculum, ensuring its smooth transition within the new education framework.