Anthony Tumwebaze is a Financial and Receivables Accountant at Birya United Agencies Limited, Mbarara, where he oversees financial reporting and receivables management. He is also a lecturer of Cost and Management Accounting and Financial Management at PACTAS Uganda Limited, contributing to the development of accounting professionals through practical and academic instruction. A qualified accountant with a strong foundation in accounting and financial management, he holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree from Bishop Stuart University.
Anthony won a scholarship to study the Certified Public Accountants (CPA) course in 2023 he completed the course in 2025 and now shares his experience as a beneficiary of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU) Student Scholarship Programme (SSP).
How did you hear about the CPA Student Scholarship Programme?
It was through the ICPAU Website, which I frequently visited for daily updates. Here, I read success stories of previous beneficiaries, and I got inspired to try my luck at the scholarship.
How has being a beneficiary of the SSP helped you in your CPA journey?
It motivated me to stay focused and work hard to ensure that I complete the CPA course in the required time of two and a half years. I benefited greatly from the financial support in terms of annual renewal fees, study material and tuition fees for the different papers, and I built social capital through interactions with other students.
What were the key challenges you faced while completing the CPA course, and how did you overcome them?
Balancing work with study was the key challenge. I needed to ensure that I delivered results at work, while at the same time creating time to study. I overcame this through scheduling time for everything. I utilised my mornings for personal revision, daytime for work and evenings for group discussions and classes.
Failing was another challenge because the scholarship package does not cover re-sitting a paper. I overcame this challenge by ensuring that I passed each paper on the first attempt, and when I failed a paper, I prepared sufficiently to ensure I did not repeat the paper more than one time.
How has earning your CPA qualification in 2025 influenced your work and career perspective?
It has significantly boosted my professional credibility and perceived expertise in accounting. It has deepened my understanding of accounting principles, tax laws and business ethics, and I have built a strong professional network.
The ethical training and professional skills have enabled me to provide tangible results that are undeniably appreciated in my current employment.
What are your future career goals, and how do you plan to leverage your CPA qualification to achieve them?
My future career goal is to become an Internal Audit manager of a publicly recognised organisation, by providing independent assurance to an entity’s risk management, governance and ensuring internal control processes are effective.
I plan to leverage my CPA qualification through establishing my credibility, proving my foundational knowledge and commitment to the profession, ensuring ethical conduct, which is crucial for building trust and through networking within the vast network of Certified Public Accountants.
What advice would you give to aspiring accountants looking to benefit from the SSP?
Research extensively to get equipped with what the scholarship requires, show a demonstrated interest regarding why you want to become a professional accountant, connect your passion to your academic pursuits and future goals, begin the journey now rather than postponing the journey, and have a mentor, preferably a member of ICPAU, for guidance.
What significance does completing CPA hold for you personally and professionally?
Completing CPA marks my formal induction into the esteemed accounting profession as a qualified accountant, recognised by a reputable body like ICPAU. It also represents my successful completion of a rigorous and challenging journey, acknowledging years of dedicated study, sacrifices and perseverance. This milestone has created a profound feeling of accomplishment and pride, having met the first requirement for being enrolled as a Certified Public Accountant.
