The Vice President of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU), Ronald Mutumba, has urged the public to seek services from licensed practitioners to ensure quality and legality in accountancy.
Speaking during the release of the December 2024 examination results, Mutumba emphasised the risks associated with unlicensed practitioners, describing their services as both illegal and unethical.
“We call upon the general public to always verify that the person or entity offering you services has a valid practicing certificate,” Mutumba said.
He stressed that engaging unlicensed individuals not only compromises professional standards but also exposes clients to risks such as fraud and substandard services.
Mutumba encouraged the public to demand proof of certification, including valid licenses for both individual practitioners and their firms, to ensure compliance with the law.
In adherence to the Accountants Act, ICPAU plans to publish a list of licensed accounting firms for 2025 to guide the public in accessing legitimate accountancy services.
Mutumba reminded the public that practicing without an ICPAU license constitutes an offence.
“Releasing the examination results marks the conclusion of one diet and the commencement of another,” Mutumba said.
Mutumba also unveiled initiatives for the year, including the sixth edition of the ICPAU Student Scholarship Programme, with beneficiaries to be announced on January 15, 2025. Applications for the seventh edition will open the same day.
Uganda will host the Public Finance Management (PFM) Conference for Africa from February 18 to 20, 2025, under the theme "Enhancing Public Finance in Africa: Progress and Prospects." The event will bring together stakeholders from across the continent to discuss the future of public finance.
“This event will be an opportunity for stakeholders across the continent to share knowledge and shape the future of public finance,” Mutumba said.
Meanwhile ,the Chairperson of the Public Accountants Examinations Board (PAEB), Prof. Laura Orobia, shared insights from the December 2024 examination diet conducted at seven centers across the country: Arua, Fort Portal, Gulu, Kampala, Mbale, Mbarara, and Nkozi.
A total of 6,795 candidates sat for the exams, marking a 6.6% increase from May 2024.
The candidates were enrolled in various programs, including the Accounting Technicians Diploma (ATD), Certified Tax Advisor (CTA), and Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (CPA-U).
The ATD course had an average pass rate of 51%, a slight decline from 54.7% in May 2024.
Female candidates dominated this category, making up 62% of participants and 67.2% of successful passes.
Younger candidates aged 18–24 years accounted for most of the passes, with first-time attempts constituting 67.2% of successful scripts.
The CTA course recorded a pass rate of 48.5%, down from 52.3% in the previous diet. Male candidates performed better, accounting for 59.8% of the passes.
The majority of successful candidates were aged 30 and above, demonstrating the advantage of experience.
The CPA-U exams, the most subscribed course, had an average pass rate of 35.6%, a drop from 43.7% in May 2024.
Female candidates presented more scripts and achieved higher pass rates than their male counterparts.
A significant 67.1% of passes came from first-time attempts, highlighting the potential of fresh candidates.
Top performers were recognised across various papers, including Matthew Kambanda in Financial Accounting, Judith Catherine Aanyu in Business Communication, and Emmanuel Ssemwogerere in Advanced Financial Management. Female candidates claimed 52.4% of the top positions in CPA-U, reflecting their growing prominence in the profession.
In total, 111 students completed the CPA-U course, up from 81 in May 2024, while 15 students completed the ATD course.
The CTA course saw 12 students graduate, bringing the total number of graduates across these programs to 7,214.
Orobia outlined measures to improve performance, including webinars, partnerships with tuition providers, availability of past papers, and counselling services.
“Students should not sit back and grumble in their cocoons. We are here to support them to achieve success,” she said.
