Mukakalisa added that the secretariat made a deliberate effort to deploy invigilators in a way that promotes cross-exposure assigning those who previously worked under the defunct UNMEB to centres formerly managed by UAHEB, and vice versa. In some cases, a blend of both teams was deployed to encourage shared learning and observation.
Candidates take part in the first-ever unified health professional exams under UHPAB.
The Uganda Health Professions Assessment Board (UHPAB) is using the first examination series held since its
formation as a benchmark for developing new harmonized national assessment guidelines
and Standards.
Formed through the merger of the former
Uganda Nurses and Midwives Examinations Board (UNMEB) and the Uganda Allied
Health Examinations Board (UAHEB), UHPAB was created to streamline health
professional assessments under one regulatory body.
Hellen Mukakalisa Kataratambi, the
interim Executive Secretary of UHPAB, said that for years the two sections have
operated independently for many years, and the merger presents both challenges
and opportunities. As the exams begin, she added, they are seizing the chance
not only to assess the students but also to critically assess and improve the
assessment system itself.
“This first round is helping us test
the process,” Mukakalisa said. “We are closely monitoring how things are
running in the field so we can use these findings to shape stronger, more
unified guidelines moving forward.”
Mukakalisa added that the secretariat
made a deliberate effort to deploy invigilators in a way that promotes
cross-exposure assigning those who previously worked under the defunct UNMEB to
centres formerly managed by UAHEB, and vice versa. In some cases, a blend of
both teams was deployed to encourage shared learning and observation.
“This cross-exposure and evaluation
have mainly involved the invigilators,” Mukakalisa explained. “However, the
practical examiners continue to serve as experts in their specialized fields,
ensuring that the hands-on components of the assessments maintain their
professional rigor and accuracy.”
She further explained that,
at the end of the assessment period, all invigilators are required to submit
detailed reports covering various aspects of the examination process including
logistics, scheduling, candidate conduct, and procedural efficiency. These
reports will serve as a key resource in analyzing previous practices and
guiding the development of a standardized and improved framework for future
assessments.
Agnes Wadda, UHPAB spokesperson,
elaborated on the differences the board is closely observing during this
transition. One key distinction, she noted, lies in how the previous boards
scheduled exams with UAHEB typically mixing theory and practical papers within
the same assessment week, while UNMEB spread them out over separate weeks.
“This unified exam cycle
gives us the perfect opportunity to evaluate both approaches and determine what
works best,” she said, “or even find a balanced model that improves efficiency
and fairness across the board.”
The submitted reports will
be reviewed by the UHPAB secretariat, which will compile a comprehensive
summary highlighting key findings and recommendations. This report will then be
presented to the new board, which will be instituted by the Minister of
Education and Sports, for discussion and, where necessary, adoption as part of
the official guidelines moving forward.
Meanwhile, despite a few minor hiccups,
such as late candidate confirmations and clarifications about exam papers at
some centres, UHPAB officials report that the assessments have begun
successfully at the majority of locations. Supported by a robust logistical
team of 3,933 supervisors, coordinators, invigilators, and examiners, the board
is committed to maintaining integrity and transparency throughout the process.
The assessments are being conducted in
229 centres nationwide, with 134 centres dedicated to Nursing and Midwifery
programmes and 95 centres handling Allied Health programmes. A total of 78,512
candidates are registered to sit for the exams, including 56,588 in the nursing
and midwifery cohort and 21,924 in allied health programmes.