The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU) has released the May/June 2023 examination results, also the first for three courses under the new syllabuses running for five years effective January 2023.
“We renew the CPA syllabus every 5 years,” said ICPAU Secretary/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Derick Nkajja.
Altogether, 6,067 candidates attempted the May 2023 examinations compared to 5,279 in December 2022, representing an increment of 14.9%.
The exams were conducted at seven examination centres; Arua, Fort Portal, Gulu, Kampala, Mbale, Mbarara and Nkozi.
While releasing the results on Monday at Skyz Hotel in Naguru, Prof. CPA Laura Orobia, Vice Chairperson of the Public Accountants Examinations Board (PAEB), said they conducted a computer-based examination (CBE) for the final paper on the CPA course integration of knowledge.
“We are pleased to inform you that we conducted a computer-based examination (CBE) for the final paper on the CPA course – Integration of Knowledge,” she noted.
“This is an important development in enhancing the quality of accountants being produced,” she added.
A total of 5,855 candidates sat for the May 2023 Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (CPA) examinations compared to 5,053 in December 2022.
The average pass rate was 32.6% compared to 35.8% in December 2022 examinations. Of the passes registered, 58.% were by females and 41.9% were by males.
The May/June 2023 Certified Tax Advisory (CTA) pass rate has slightly improved to 47% from 44.6% in December 2022. Of the papers passed, 36% were by females and 64% by males.
In Accounting Technicians Diploma (ATD) examinations, of the papers passed, the pass rate for female candidates was 61.4% with male candidates at 38.6%. Despite having fewer female candidates (49), they performed better than their male counterparts (175).
“The Board is happy to announce that we had more female candidates (3,655 representing 54.9%) than their male counterparts (3,000 representing 45.1%),” said Prof Orobia.
She further revealed that the Board has changed the policy on recognising top candidates.
“For one to be declared a top candidate, one must have obtained at least 60%. The pass mark in each subject is 50%.”
CPA Constant Othieno Mayende, President of ICPAU, said: “As an accountancy profession, we are gaining momentum. Our numbers are growing and we are not turning back.”
As regards the general performance of the candidates, the board noted with concern that when the institute organizes engagement webinars on individual subjects, very few students attend while others, including tutors, do not look at the learning outcomes leading to poor performance.
The markers, on the other hand, noted that many candidates do spotting or selective reading, a weakness yet to be overcome.
