Education stakeholders have raised concern over the number of students who register for health professions examinations but fail to sit them, with financial difficulties and family responsibilities cited among the factors contributing to absenteeism.
While releasing the results of the 2026 Uganda Health Professions Assessment Board (UHPAB) examinations, Board Registrar Helen Mukakarisa said some candidates struggle to raise examination fees, while others, particularly diploma students, face challenges balancing studies with work and family responsibilities.
A total of 14,086 candidates registered for the final health professions examinations held between July 15 and 26, 2026, but 145 candidates did not turn up.
Mukakarisa said investigations by the board found that financial constraints were among the reasons some students failed to sit the examinations, while others were affected by family responsibilities and the demands of pursuing studies while married.
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She said such challenges can affect students' ability to complete their training and qualify for professional practice.
Of the candidates who registered for the examinations, 8,969, representing 63.7 percent, were certificate students, while 5,117, representing 36.3 percent, were diploma students.
At certificate level, females formed the majority, with 8,336 candidates compared to 5,750 males. A total of 7,908 certificate students, representing 88.1 percent, passed, while 987 candidates failed.
The board said the certificate pass rate improved compared to the previous year, while the number of students who failed declined.
At diploma level, 4,344 candidates passed while 702 failed. However, the number of candidates attaining first-class passes declined by 11.7 percent compared to 2025.
Hon. Eng. Cuthbert Abigaba, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Education and Sports and Member of Parliament for Kibale County, said the government should treat absenteeism among health training students as a serious concern, particularly as Uganda continues to prioritise science education.
Abigaba said the country needs more trained nurses and other health professionals and called for increased government support for students pursuing health-related courses.
He urged the government to expand sponsorship opportunities and student loan schemes to enable financially disadvantaged students to complete their training and sit the required examinations.
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Abigaba also questioned whether existing student loan opportunities are reaching the intended beneficiaries, saying some schemes are sometimes accessed by people who are not necessarily the most financially vulnerable.
State Minister for Education and Sports John Chrysostom Muyingo called for stronger measures to address absenteeism and urged examination authorities to ensure that candidates admitted for examinations are enrolled in properly licensed training institutions.
Muyingo also called for further investigation into the reasons some students register for examinations but eventually fail to turn up.
The latest results are the third set of examinations released since the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Examinations Board (UNMEB) was merged with the Uganda Allied Health Examinations Board, creating the current examination framework.
