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Debut Unified Health Professions Exams to Inform New Assessment Guidelines and Standards

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.
16 Jun 2025 16:10
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.