Uganda Health Students Petition Parliament Over “Unjust” Zero-Retake Policy, Citing Financial Ruin and Systemic Unfairness
KAMPALA – A storm is brewing in Uganda’s health education sector as thousands of allied health students are appealing to the Parliament of Uganda to urgently intervene against a set of new examination policies enacted by the Uganda Health Professions Assessment Board (UHPAB), which they describe as “draconian,” “unjust,” and a threat to their future.
The petition, submitted by a coalition of allied health students and supported by over 700 signatures from at least five training institutions, calls for the immediate suspension of two specific policies: the “Zero-Retake” policy and the “Cross-semester Retake” policy.
At the heart of the dispute is a significant departure from established academic precedent. Previously, under the Uganda Allied Health Examinations Board (UAHEB), students were allowed to progress to their final semester provided they had not failed more than half of their course units in the preceding semester, with opportunities to clear retakes before graduation.
The new UHPAB policies have drastically altered this framework:
- The “Zero-Retake” Policy (Policy A): This policy mandates that any student in their second-to-last semester who obtains even a single retake in any course unit is automatically barred from proceeding to their final semester. Students argue this is a disproportionately harsh penalty that forces them to repeat an entire semester for one failed subject, placing an “immense and unnecessary financial strain” on families who have already sacrificed heavily.
- The “Cross-semester Retake” Policy (Policy B): This rule prevents a student from registering for retakes from more than two different semesters at one time. The petitioners highlight a glaring contradiction: a student with three retakes from a single previous semester is allowed to sit for all of them at once, while a student with just two retakes, if they are from two different semesters, is blocked from doing so. They call the board’s reasoning—that this helps students “concentrate and pass”—”illogical, unscientific and fundamentally baseless.”
The students’ petition outlines several grounds for their disagreement:
· Disregard for Student Welfare: The policy is seen as an “arbitrary penalty” rather than a supportive, remedial measure, abandoning the universal principle of allowing students to recover from minor academic setbacks.
· Disproportionate Penalty: Barring a student on the cusp of qualification for a single retake is deemed an irrational and harsh standard that wastes years of investment.
· Excessive Financial Burden: Being forced to repeat an entire semester for one course places an immense financial strain on students, parents, and guardians.
The petition concludes with a humble prayer to the Parliament, through the Committee of Education and Health, to:
- Issue a directive for the immediate suspension of the new policies.
- Mandate that UHPAB reverts to the previous, more reasonable academic progression policy.
- Compel UHPAB to conduct comprehensive consultations with students and institutions before implementing any future major policy changes.
“The future of Uganda’s healthcare system and the hopes of countless trainees depend on compassionate and fair governance,” the petition states, echoing the concerns of many students who fear increased stress, anxiety, and potential dropouts.
The students have copied the petition to the Ministry of Education and Sports, the Uganda Police, the High Court, and the National Council for Higher Education, underscoring the gravity of their appeal.
This academic crisis unfolds against a backdrop of national political activity, with the Electoral Commission having recently released the polling dates for the 2026 General Elections, commencing with the Presidential and Parliamentary polls on January 15, 2026.
As the nation looks toward its political future, its aspiring health workers are pleading for a resolution that safeguards their academic and professional one.
StopZeroRetake #ProtectUgandaStudents #EducationForAll
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