The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU) is warming up to host the 3rd East African Congress of Accountants (EACOA) which will be held at Hotel Africana between 14th and 16th April 2021. The event, which will be both physical and virtual will see accountants in the East African Community (EAC) meet and hold various discussions on issues that are vital to the professional and form networks to grow both personal and business ties.
The congress will be Presided over by Hon. Matia Kasaija, the Minister of Finance as the chief guest. Among other issues, the 3rd East African Congress of Accountants will discuss how the accountancy professional can promote regional integration by encouraging efforts that will impact economic growth.
During a press launch of the event that was held on Thursday at Hotel Africana, its was communicated that the Congress was initially scheduled for 18-20 March 2020 at the Imperial Resort Beach Hotel, Entebbe but was postponed due to the outbreak of COVID-19. This year’s congress will run under the theme ‘Integration for accelerated economic development’.
The congress will focus on cross border trade, public financial management, Africa’s Agenda 2063, the EAC geopolitics, the impact of technological advancements, and progress on the EACIAs’ Mutual Recognition Agreement, among other topics.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of ICPAU, CPA Derick Nkajja, the Congress is to enhance the involvement of accountants in regional economic development discussions and promote cross border experiences.
Key speakers include; Makerere University’s Ndebesa Mwambutsya and Dr. Fred Muhumuza, Ms. Sandra John Chogo of the National Audit Office of Tanzania, CPA Edwin Makori (Chief Executive Officer of ICPAK), Mr. Vickson Ncube (Former Chief Executive Officer of the Pan African Federation of Accountants), among others.
EACOA is an initiative of the East African Community Institutes of Accountants (EACIAs) like; Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU), the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK), the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Rwanda (ICPAR),the National Board of Accountants and Auditors of Tanzania (NBAA), and Ordre des Professionnels Comptables du Burundi (OPC)/the Order of Professional Accountants of Burundi.
More details indicate that the Congress is held after every two years. The first EACOA was hosted by Tanzania’s NBAA in 2016, while the second was hosted by Kenya’s ICPAK in 2018.