ICPAU Unveils Cohort 7 Scholars, Launches 2026 CPA Scholarships

The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU) has unveiled the seventh cohort of beneficiaries under its Student Scholarship Programme and officially launched applications for the 2026 CPA scholarships, reaffirming its commitment to nurturing the next generation of professional accountants.

Speaking at the ceremony held at Protea Hotel by Marriott Kampala Skyz on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, ICPAU President CPA Timothy Ediomu said the scholarship programme is a strategic investment in Uganda’s future workforce.

“The ICPAU Student Scholarship Programme presents students with the opportunity to enhance their skills and position themselves to step boldly into the future with world-recognised professional accountancy skills,” Ediomu said.

“In addition to equipping students with technical and professional skills, CPA enhances one’s competitiveness both locally and globally, and with an ICPAU membership, the opportunities are boundless.”

The 2025 scholarship beneficiaries—Cohort 7—were selected from 351 applicants drawn from 28 universities across the country. Only 10 candidates were awarded the highly competitive scholarships, which cover registration, examination fees, and study materials for the CPA course.

The beneficiaries include graduates from Africa Renewal University, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Bugema University, Uganda Christian University, Lira University, ISBAT University, and Kyambogo University, pursuing degrees in Business Administration, Accounting, and Finance.

ICPAU noted that the beneficiaries will sit for their first CPA examinations in May 2026 and are required to complete the course within two and a half years.

The scholarship programme, introduced in 2019 as part of ICPAU’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiative, has now supported 70 students to date.

According to CPA Salome Seruyange, representing the Chairperson of the Education and Research Committee, the programme is about more than financial support. “Through the scholarship initiative, ICPAU invests in nurturing competent, ethical, and impactful accountants who will contribute to the growth of the profession,” Seruyange said.

During the same event, ICPAU also launched the 8th edition of the Student Scholarship Programme, opening applications for the 2026 intake. Eligible applicants must have completed their Bachelor’s degree in 2025, attained a First Class or Second Class Honours (Upper Division), and graduated from a public or NCHE-recognised private chartered university. The programme is open to graduates from all academic disciplines.

Applications are submitted online through the ICPAU website, with the deadline set for 31 March 2026. Ten scholarship slots are available.

Sharing her experience, Emily Namwano, a beneficiary from Cohort 3, said the scholarship was life-changing.

“The scholarship came when I needed it most, addressing my financial constraints by covering all fees and study materials,” Namwano said. “It also instills discipline and reminds you that as a CPA, you have a name and reputation to protect.”

ICPAU officials encouraged successful candidates to honour the opportunity through excellence and professionalism, noting that the CPA qualification is equivalent to a post-graduate qualification under the Uganda Accountancy Qualifications Framework.

As the Institute unveiled the new scholars, Ediomu urged aspiring accountants to seize the moment. “You are few out of very many who applied. Leverage this opportunity to improve your skills and shape a future that impacts not only the profession, but the economy at large,” he said.