The release of the 2025 Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education results has once again sparked excitement and debate across Uganda as schools celebrate their academic achievements.
Thousands of candidates across the country sat for the examinations organized by the Uganda National Examinations Board, and the results have provided a clear picture of which institutions performed best at the A-Level stage.
According to an analysis compiled by New Vision Group through its Weekend Vision publication, more than 2,500 schools were assessed based on their average class performance.
The ranking considered both the total points scored and the number of candidates presented by each school, giving a fair overview of how institutions performed nationally.
Emerging at the very top of the rankings is St. Julian High School Annex in Gayaza, located in Wakiso District. The school recorded an impressive average of 17.4 points from 67 candidates, making it the best performing school in the country for the 2025 UACE examinations. Its performance has been widely praised as a demonstration of consistent academic excellence.
Coming in second place is Cornerstone Leadership Academy in Nakasongola District with an average of 16.5 points from 49 candidates. The school has steadily built a reputation for strong academic discipline and quality teaching, enabling it to compete with some of the most established institutions in the country.
Tied closely in third place is Mt. St. Mary’s College Namagunga, one of Uganda’s most respected girls’ schools. With an average of 16.5 points from 126 candidates, the school maintained its long-standing reputation for producing outstanding academic results year after year.
Fourth position was taken by Central College Annex Mityana, which recorded an average score of 16.2 points from 28 candidates. Although it presented a relatively smaller number of candidates, its impressive average score placed it among the top academic institutions in the country.
Rounding off the top five is the famous Ntare School in Mbarara, which achieved an average of 16.1 points from 183 candidates. Ntare has long been known as one of the country’s leading secondary schools and continues to maintain strong performance in national examinations.
Another major performer is Gayaza High School, which ranked sixth nationally with an average of 16.1 points from 164 candidates. The school’s consistent results reinforce Gayaza’s reputation as a major academic hub in central Uganda.
Several other schools also made it into the top ten, including St. Andrea Kahwa’s College Hoima, which scored an average of 16 points from 246 candidates. Its performance highlights the growing academic competitiveness of schools outside the capital region.
Amus College School in Namugongo also impressed with an average of 16 points despite presenting a very large number of candidates. With 491 students sitting the exams, the school demonstrated that high enrolment does not necessarily mean lower academic performance.
Another large institution that performed strongly is Seeta High School Mukono, which recorded an average of 15.9 points with 308 candidates. The school’s strong performance continues to place it among the leading A-Level institutions in the country.
Its sister campus, Seeta High School, also appeared in the top rankings with an average of 15.8 points. The Seeta High School network has become increasingly influential in Uganda’s education sector due to its consistently strong results.
Among other notable performers is St. Mary’s Secondary School Kitende, which achieved an average of 15.4 points from a large group of 498 candidates. The school has gained national attention in recent years for excelling not only academically but also in sports.
Another school making a strong appearance in the rankings is King’s College Budo, which recorded an average of 15.3 points. Founded in the early twentieth century, the school remains one of Uganda’s most prestigious institutions.
Uganda Martyrs Secondary School Namugongo also featured prominently with an average score of 15.2 points from 498 candidates. The school’s ability to maintain strong results despite a large student population has impressed education analysts.
Other schools such as St. Mary’s College Kisubi, Maryhill High School, and Kawempe Muslim Secondary School also ranked highly, demonstrating the depth of academic talent across the country’s education system.
The rankings further revealed that schools from the central region still dominate the top positions. However, several institutions from western, eastern, and northern Uganda also made impressive appearances in the national list.
For example, Busoga College Mwiri and Kiira College Butiki represented eastern Uganda strongly, while Bweranyangi Girls Secondary School and Muntuyera High School helped showcase western Uganda’s academic strength.
The results also highlighted schools that excel specifically in science subjects across different regions. Institutions such as Bukedea Comprehensive School and Akii Bua Secondary School were recognized for producing strong science candidates.
Education experts say the rankings provide useful guidance for students currently in Senior Five or those choosing schools for A-Level studies. However, they also caution that academic success depends on many factors beyond exam averages.
Factors such as teacher quality, subject combinations, school culture, and student discipline all play important roles in shaping academic outcomes. For university-bound students, the 2025 UACE results serve as another reminder that consistent hard work remains the most important path to success.
