Education stakeholders raise concern over absenteeism in health professions exams

What the report says

Education stakeholders in Uganda have voiced concern over candidates who register for health professions examinations but do not appear for them, citing financial strain, family duties and the challenge of studying while working. The issue was highlighted during the release of the 2026 Uganda Health Professions Assessment Board (UHPAB) results, according to Nile Post, with Board Registrar Helen Mukakarisa saying some students struggle to pay exam fees while others, especially diploma students, juggle training, work and household responsibilities.

The board said 14,086 candidates registered for the final examinations held from July 15 to 26, 2026, but 145 failed to sit. Of those who registered, 8,969 were certificate candidates and 5,117 were diploma candidates. The reported results showed strong performance at certificate level, where 7,908 passed and 987 failed, while 4,344 diploma candidates passed and 702 failed. Nile Post also reported that the number of first-class diploma passes fell compared with 2025.

Parliamentary education committee chair Cuthbert Abigaba urged government to treat absenteeism as a serious problem, saying Uganda needs more nurses and other health workers and should broaden scholarships and student loan access. State Minister for Education and Sports John Chrysostom Muyingo called for tighter checks to ensure candidates are enrolled in licensed institutions and for further inquiry into why some registered students do not attend.

The report comes as Uganda continues reorganizing its health training assessment system following the merger that created the current examination framework.