Why parliament blocked probe into UNEB grading disputes
Naluyima questioned UNEB’s grading process after students in rural schools outperformed their urban counterparts, a shift from previous years.

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa has dismissed a request by Wakiso District Woman MP Ethel Naluyima for Parliament to investigate the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) grading system following the unexpected poor performance of urban schools in the 2024 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE).
Naluyima questioned UNEB’s grading process after students in rural schools outperformed their urban counterparts, a shift from previous years. She urged Parliament to probe UNEB’s marking and grading to ensure fairness and public confidence in the examination process.
However, Tayebwa ruled out parliamentary intervention, stating that such concerns fall under the Ministry of Education.
“That is for the Ministry to note; it will be at their discretion. If they find any issues, they can investigate. But I wouldn’t want Parliament to be involved in marking and grading,” Tayebwa said.
Kalungu West MP Joseph Ssewungu echoed Naluyima’s concerns, questioning how Primary Six learners in rural areas could outscore Primary Seven candidates from top-performing urban schools. He also criticized UNEB for refusing to review disputed results despite parents’ willingness to pay for script retrieval.
Jonam County MP Emmanuel Ongiertho opposed a parliamentary probe, arguing that UNEB had already explained the drop in top scores due to grading system adjustments.
“In the results release, UNEB explained the changes, yet some regions feel entitled to dominate the top spots. If parents have concerns, they should follow UNEB’s complaint procedures,” Ongiertho said.
The debate comes after UNEB Executive Director Dan Odongo revealed that 84,301 candidates (10.7%) scored Division One in 2024, a slight drop from 11.7% in 2023, while over half of the candidates were placed in Division Two.