St. Julian High School Annex in Gayaza, Wakiso district, has emerged as the best performing school in Uganda’s 2025 Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) examinations, topping a ranking of over 2,500 schools compiled by The Weekend Vision based on average class performance.
The school recorded an impressive average of 17.4 points with 67 candidates, making it the undisputed number one in the country. Cornerstone Leadership Academy in Nakasongola came in second with an average of 16.5 points, followed by Mt. St. Mary’s Namagunga (16.5), Central College Annex Mityana (16.2), and Ntare School (16.1).
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Capital schools dominate, but upcountry holds its own
The top of the rankings is heavily populated by schools from Kampala and Central Uganda, but several upcountry institutions put up a strong showing. In Northern Uganda, Ocer Campion Jesuit College in Gulu emerged as the best school in the region, appearing prominently in the Gulu district rankings. For Lango region, Restore Leadership High School in Gulu topped the Arts district rankings with an average of 12.3 points.
In Western Uganda, Ntare School in Mbarara leads the pack while in the East, Bududa Secondary School was flagged as the top science school for Elgon region.
Gayaza — a hub of academic excellence
Gayaza and its environs continued to punch far above their weight. Beyond St. Julian at number one, Gayaza High School itself ranked 6th nationally with an average of 16.1 points from 164 candidates — a remarkable feat for a large-entry school.
Science schools spotlighted
The rankings also highlighted the best science schools per region. Paidha Secondary School emerged as the best science school in Zombo district, West Nile region, while Mulagi Girls Secondary School topped the science rankings for Busoga region. In Teso region, Bukedea Comprehensive School took the top science school honours, and for Lango region, Akii Bua Secondary School in Alebtong was recognised as the best science school.
Large schools that still delivered
One of the more striking findings in the rankings is how some schools with very large candidatures still managed strong averages. Seeta High School Mukono, for instance, entered 308 candidates while still maintaining a competitive average. Similarly, Amus College School Namugongo entered 498 candidates. These figures suggest that quality and scale are not always mutually exclusive.
What the rankings mean for you
For students currently in Senior Five or considering which school to join for A-Level, these rankings offer a useful guide — though experts caution that average points alone do not tell the full story. School culture, subject combinations offered, teacher quality, and boarding versus day arrangements all play a role in academic outcomes.
For university-bound students, the results confirm that the road to the top institutions runs through consistent, hard work — regardless of which school you attend.
| Rank | School Name | Ave. Points | No. of Cands | |
| 1 | St Julian HS Annex, Gayaza | 17.4 | 67 | |
| 2 | Cornerstone Leadership Academy | 16.5 | 49 | |
| 3 | Mt. St. Mary’s, Namagunga | 16.5 | 126 | |
| 4 | Central Col. Annex, Mityana | 16.2 | 28 | |
| 5 | Ntare School | 16.1 | 183 | |
| 6 | Gayaza HS | 16.1 | 164 | |
| 7 | St. Adrea Kahwa’s Col. Hoima | 16 | 246 | |
| 8 | Amus Col. School | 16 | 491 | |
| 9 | Seeta HS Mukono | 15.9 | 308 | |
| 10 | Seeta HS | 15.8 | 241 | |
| 11 | St. Mary’s SS Kitende | 15.4 | 498 | |
| 12 | God’s Way HS Maganjo | 15.4 | 100 | |
| 13 | King’s Col. Budo | 15.3 | 405 | |
| 14 | Uganda Martyrs SS Namugongo | 15.2 | 498 | |
| 15 | Master Cares Christian HS | 15.1 | 22 | |
| 16 | St. Mary’s Col. Kisubi | 14.7 | 172 | |
| 17 | Maryhill HS | 14.7 | 146 | |
| 18 | Mandela SS Annex, Hoima | 14.6 | 123 | |
| 19 | Amus Col. School Annex | 14.6 | 114 | |
| 20 | Kawempe Muslim SS | 14.5 | 213 | |
| 21 | Midland HS Buntaba | 14.4 | 97 | |
| 22 | St. Henry’s Col. Kitovu | 14.3 | 99 | |
| 23 | Umar B. A Islamic HS | 14.3 | 24 | |
| 24 | Mpigi Mixed SS | 14.3 | 59 | |
| 25 | Kiboga Parents SS | 14.2 | 21 | |
| 26 | Ndejje SS | 14.2 | 222 | |
| 27 | St. Joseph’s SS Naggalama | 14.2 | 224 | |
| 28 | Light Academy SS | 14.1 | 89 | |
| 29 | St. Mary’s Col. Lugazi | 14.1 | 495 | |
| 30 | Act HS Kakuuto | 14.1 | 47 | |
| 31 | Trust HS | 14 | 40 | |
| 32 | Naalya SS Lugazi | 13.9 | 144 | |
| 33 | St. Julian HS, Gayaza | 13.9 | 330 | |
| 34 | St. Mary’s SS Kitende Annex | 13.9 | 113 | |
| 35 | Kibuli SS | 13.8 | 206 | |
| 36 | Immaculate Heart Girls School | 13.8 | 243 | |
| 37 | Trinity Col. Nabbingo | 13.8 | 178 | |
| 38 | St. Paul’s Col. Mbale | 13.8 | 45 | |
| 39 | Seeta HS Green Campus, Mbalala | 13.7 | 289 | |
| 40 | Namirembe Hillside HS | 13.7 | 236 | |
| 41 | St. Mary’s Girls’ Col. Aboke | 13.7 | 54 | |
| 42 | St. Mark’s Col. Namagoma | 13.6 | 242 | |
| 43 | Kyambogo Col. School | 13.6 | 121 | |
| 44 | Gombe SS | 13.6 | 230 | |
| 45 | Jinja Col. | 13.5 | 121 | |
| 46 | Mbarara HS | 13.5 | 204 | |
| 47 | Plus Two HS, Bushenyi | 13.4 | 99 | |
| 48 | St. Joseph’s Voc. Sch. Mbarara | 13.4 | 89 | |
| 49 | Naalya SS Namugongo | 13.4 | 250 | |
| 50 | St. Kalemba SS, Nazigo | 13.3 | 151 | |
| 51 | Bukalasa Seminary | 13.3 | 22 | |
| 52 | Standard HS, Zana | 13.2 | 291 | |
| 53 | St. Peter’s SS, Naalya | 13.2 | 230 | |
| 54 | Iganga SS | 13.1 | 234 | |
| 55 | Buddo SS | 13.1 | 391 | |
| 56 | St. Mary’s Col. Rushoroza | 13.1 | 113 | |
| 57 | Kibibi SS | 13.1 | 80 | |
| 58 | Our Lady of Africa SS, Namilyango | 13.1 | 300 | |
| 59 | St. Leo’s Col., Kyegobe | 13 | 45 | |
| 60 | Busoga Col., Mwiri | 13 | 89 | |
| 61 | Kiira Col. Butiki | 12.9 | 133 | |
| 62 | St. Paul’s Sem. Kabale | 12.9 | 22 | |
| 63 | Bweranyangi Girls’ SS | 12.9 | 175 | |
| 64 | St. Maria Goretti Girls SS, Katende | 12.9 | 44 | |
| 65 | Namilyango Col. | 12.8 | 190 | |
| 66 | Muntuyera HS | 12.8 | 91 | |
| 67 | Trinity Col., Nabbingo | 12.8 | 178 | |
| 68 | St. Joseph’s Girls, Bakhita | 12.8 | 40 | |
| 69 | St. Kagwa Bushenyi HS | 12.8 | 88 | |
| 70 | Cornerstone Leadership Academy, Matugga | 12.7 | 49 | |
| 71 | St. Mary’s SS, Kitende | 12.7 | 498 | |
| 72 | King’s Col., Budo | 12.7 | 405 | |
| 73 | Maryhill HS | 12.7 | 146 | |
| 74 | Uganda Martyrs SS, Namugongo | 12.6 | 498 | |
| 75 | Mt. St. Mary’s, Namagunga | 12.6 | 126 | |
| 76 | St. Mary’s Col., Kisubi | 12.5 | 172 | |
| 77 | Ntare School | 12.5 | 183 | |
| 78 | St. Henry’s Col., Kitovu | 12.5 | 99 | |
| 79 | Gayaza HS | 12.5 | 164 | |
| 80 | Kibuli SS | 12.5 | 206 | |
| 81 | Immaculate Heart Girls | 12.4 | 243 | |
| 82 | Seeta HS | 12.4 | 241 | |
| 83 | Seeta HS Mukono | 12.4 | 308 | |
| 84 | Kawempe Muslim SS | 12.4 | 213 | |
| 85 | St. Mary’s Col. Lugazi | 12.4 | 495 | |
| 86 | St. Joseph’s SS Naggalama | 12.3 | 224 | |
| 87 | Ndejje SS | 12.3 | 222 | |
| 88 | Naalya SS Lugazi | 12.2 | 144 | |
| 89 | Naalya SS Namugongo | 12.1 | 250 | |
| 90 | Our Lady of Africa SS, Namilyango | 12.1 | 300 | |
| 91 | St. Julian HS, Gayaza | 12.1 | 330 | |
| 92 | Seeta HS Green Campus, Mbalala | 12.1 | 289 | |
| 93 | Namirembe Hillside HS | 12 | 236 | |
| 94 | St. Mark’s Col. Namagoma | 12 | 242 | |
| 95 | Gombe SS | 12 | 230 | |
| 96 | Buddo SS | 12 | 391 | |
| 97 | Mengo SS | 11.9 | 450 | |
| 98 | Turkish Light Academy | 11.9 | 89 | |
| 99 | Standard HS, Zana | 11.9 | 291 | |
| 100 | St. Mary’s SS Kitende Annex | 11.8 | 113 | |
| 101 | Lubiri SS | 11.8 | 340 | |
| 102 | Kyambogo Col. Sch | 11.7 | 121 | |
| 103 | Mbarara HS | 11.7 | 204 | |
| 104 | Jinja Col. | 11.7 | 121 | |
| 105 | St. Mary’s Col. Rushoroza | 11.7 | 113 |