The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU) held the 14th Graduation ceremony on 7th March 2024, at the Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala.
250 graduated in the following categories; 231 for the Certified Public Accountants (CPA) course, 4 for the Certified Tax Advisor (CTA) and 15 for the Accounting Technicians Diploma (ATD).
The graduands completed their studies in 2023. There were three examinations diets in the year 2023, May, August and November and these were the first examinations held under the revised syllabuses, launched in January 2023.
The CPA graduands are also the pioneer candidates for the computer-based examinations for the fast paper of the course, Intergration of Knowledge that was introduced to enhance the market-readiness of CPA graduates.
Cumulatively, from the 14th Graduation ceremony, the Institute has now realised 4,970 CPA graduates, 81 CTA graduates and 1,840 ATD graduates, since the inception of the courses. With these growing numbers, the pool of qualified accountants continues to increase.
Uganda’s economy, with one of the highest global entrepreneurial records, requires sufficient professional accountants who can support the rising number of businesses.
The goal of the CPA course is to produce competent professional accountants who are capable of applying the knowledge, skills and values to create impact in organisations and the economies.
CTA produces competent tax advisors who contribute to the economic development of the country, while ATD produces supporting accounting staff.
“It is important for accountants to be sufficiently skilled so that they can effectively support organisations,” said CPA Derick Nkajja, the Secretary/CEO of ICPAU.
“Professional accountancy education is designed to offer comprehensive knowledge and skills, and also impart the desired values and attributes required for the market,” he added.
“Furthermore, a professional accountancy qualification is a requirement for membership enrolment with a professional accountancy organisation like ICPAU, to ensure, proper regulation of accountants,” noted CPA Nkajja.
The Chief Guest, CPA Daniel Nangalama, the Acting Executive Director of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards intimated to graduands how the journey to becoming a Certified Public Accountant is challenging.
“It demands not just mastery of numbers and financial principles but also integrity, honesty, and a deep sense of ethical responsibility. In your hands lies the power to influence economies, transform businesses, and impact lives,” he noted.
He also mentioned that the landscape of accountancy is ever evolving, shaped by technological advancements, regulatory changes, and global economic shifts thus must embrace continuous learning as a cornerstone of professional life.
“With this power comes a profound responsibility to uphold the highest standards of our profession. You are now custodians of public trust, a role that is both an honor and a challenge,” he added.
The Institute adopts various interventions to improve the quality of professional accountancy education. These include regular syllabus reviews to match the learning outcomes with the dynamic business environment, as well as reviewing and recognising tuition providers.
Beginning with 2024, the Institute has introduced a tuition provider’s masterclass as part of quality assurance regarding professional accountancy education. The Institute is also set to conduct a study to ascertain the factors affecting performance.
