The government has finalised plans to merge the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) and the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC) into a single institution responsible for both curriculum development and assessment of learners.
According to an article by New Vision, the merger forms part of a broader reform under the draft National Assessment and Placement Policy, which is currently being developed by the Ministry of Education and Sports.
If implemented, the merger will mark one of the most significant structural changes in Uganda’s education system in decades. Both UNEB and NCDC are among Uganda’s oldest education agencies — UNEB marking 52 years and NCDC 42 years in existence.
Policy Framework and Next Steps
The draft policy outlining the merger has already undergone stakeholder consultations and is now ready for presentation to the Ministry of Education’s top management, led by First Lady and Education Minister Janet Kataaha Museveni.
Once reviewed, it will be forwarded to Cabinet for approval. After that, the principles for amending the NCDC and UNEB Acts will be developed, approved, and later presented to Parliament for debate and enactment.
Current Roles of UNEB and NCDC
Under the existing laws, NCDC is mandated to design, review, and update the national curriculum for pre-primary, primary, and secondary education. It also verifies and approves all foreign curricula and learning materials used in international schools across the country.
The centre conducts curriculum research, testing, and evaluation, and coordinates the implementation of education programmes at all learning levels.
UNEB, on the other hand, is responsible for organising and managing national examinations at the end of the primary and secondary education cycles, as well as conducting research related to assessment and examinations.
A Unified Education Body
Once the merger is complete, the new body will inherit and combine the roles of both UNEB and NCDC — effectively overseeing everything from curriculum design to student assessment.
Education experts believe the move could streamline Uganda’s education system, strengthen policy coordination, and improve the alignment between what is taught in schools and how learners are evaluated.
