The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU) has graduated a total of 250 students during its 14th Graduation ceremony held Thursday, March 7, 2024, at the Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala.
They include; 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.
According to CPA Derick Nkajja, the Secretary/CEO of ICPAU, 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, Integration of Knowledge which was introduced to enhance the market-readiness of CPA graduates,” he noted.
Cumulatively, from the 14th Graduation ceremony, the Institute has realised 4,970 CPA graduates, 81 CTA graduates and 1,840 ATD graduates, since the inception of the courses.
In his speech as Guest of Honour, CPA Daniel Nangalama, Acting Executive Director of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), commended the graduates on their remarkable achievements and urged them to be trustworthy change drivers for the Ugandan economy.
“Let’s embrace service beyond self and commit to lifelong learning to enhance our talents and employability,” he said.
During the ceremony, ICPAU Director of Education, John Bosco Ntangaare, led a rewards session which celebrated some of the top-performing students from the last calendar year starting with ATD students.
The most outstanding among them was Difasi Nasasira who completed the Certified Public Accountants (CPA) course in two years.
“I wish to congratulate today’s graduates upon their respective accomplishments as we celebrate and recognize a significant milestone in the journey of professional development and ethical stewardship in the field of accountancy,” said ICPAU President, CPA Josephine Ossiya.
“With each lot of graduates, we achieve a growing number of qualified accountants who can effectively serve the economy. I would also like to acknowledge and congratulate the recipients of the various merit awards for their exceptional performance,” she noted.
She said this cohort is the first under revised syllabuses and a pioneer in computer-based exams for the Integration of Knowledge.
“Upon attaining an ICPAU qualification, you become ambassadors of the profession. Represent diligently as custodians of public trust, upholding the highest standards of integrity and ethical responsibility.”
She reminded the graduates that they have been empowered with the knowledge and skills to create an impact.
“Embrace our core values of professional excellence, accountability, integrity, and responsiveness as you navigate your spheres of influence. Enrol for full membership to unlock the perks of being a Certified Public Accountant. Embrace CPDs, stay updated with industry trends, and engage with the global accounting community to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of accountancy,” she added.
CPA Charles Busingye, the Young Accountant of the Year 2023, who was the guest speaker, shared his remarkable journey, crowned with prestigious awards, to serve as an inspiration to all the graduands.
According to ICPAU, with these growing numbers, the pool of qualified accountants continues to increase and 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 an impact in organisations and economies. CTA produces competent tax advisors who contribute to the economic development of the country, while ATD produces supporting accounting staff.
