Screenshot of the paper and the circular sent out by UNEB
The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) is facing public criticism after a printing error on one of this year’s Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) examination papers sparked outrage and online speculation.
The mistake appeared on Tuesday’s Economics Paper 2, which was labelled 2024 instead of 2025. The error prompted UNEB to issue an urgent correction to all examination centers, directing supervisors and headteachers to inform candidates that the paper remained valid.
“Please take note that the year should read 2025 and not 2024 as indicated on the examination paper. Candidates should proceed with the examination,” read a statement issued by the Board to field officials. While UNEB officials and some people described the error as minor, the issue quickly snowballed into a social media storm.
Netizens lambasted UNEB for what they saw as a careless oversight in an otherwise meticulously prepared process. The backlash underscored a broader frustration. With students facing immense pressure to perform perfectly, where even a single misplaced decimal can cost marks, how could the exam body afford such a slip-up?
For instance, on X (formerly Twitter), users are questioning how such a basic oversight could occur in a national examination process known for its strict procedures and layers of verification. “UNEB took 364 days preparing an exam and forgot to change the year after reprinting the same paper of 2024,” one user, Hamidu, posted, drawing hundreds of reactions.
Another wrote, “After a whole year of preparation, @UNEB_UG still printed 2024 on this year’s UACE Economics Paper 2.” Priscilla, whose handle @rilgal23 says she is a teacher of literature, suggested that the board had recycled last year’s paper. “The board UNEB just brought back the exact economics paper of 2024,” she wrote, echoing a concern that quickly gained traction among netizens.
By Wednesday evening, the matter was trending, with users sharing memes, sarcastic takes, and even calls for accountability within the examination board. Some critics demanded disciplinary action against those responsible, arguing that UNEB should hold itself to the same high standards it demands from candidates.
Educationist Gozanga Kaswarra described the incident as a symptom of deeper problems within Uganda’s education system. He said the error exposes lapses in quality control and professionalism at one of the country’s most critical institutions. “This is not just a typo; it can be a reflection of complacency in our education management,” Gozanga said.
“An examination paper is the final product of a long process involving design, moderation, and printing. If such a document reaches candidates with an error, it means several quality assurance layers failed.” He added that UNEB must strengthen internal checks and ensure accountability at every stage of examination preparation.
“Attention to detail is not optional in assessment work,” he said. “The board’s credibility depends on accuracy. Once the public loses trust, even small mistakes create lasting damage.” Responding to the matter, UNEB spokesperson Jennifer Kalule said that the paper was entirely new and the wrong year was a typographical error.
“You can check last year’s paper. It is totally different from this one. The year was an error,” Kalule said. “We understand the outrage because the public holds us in high regard, and rightly so. UNEB is committed to transparency and excellence, and we are reviewing our processes to ensure this does not happen again.”
Kalule added that all exams remained valid and no candidate would be affected by the misprint. She assured the public that all answer scripts would be marked according to standard procedures.
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