By Caroline Nassuuna
The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU) has awarded 412 graduates at its 16th Graduation Ceremony held on Friday, 6 March 2026, at Hotel Africana in Kampala.
This year’s graduation comprised 378 finalists completing the Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (CPA) qualification, 12 candidates from the Certified Tax Advisor (CTA) programme, and 22 candidates completing the Accounting Technicians Diploma (ATD).
The Institute also awarded 94 top-performing students and recognised four candidates who completed the CPA course within the stipulated time of two and a half years. In addition, four of the graduating candidates were beneficiaries of the ICPAU Student Scholarship Programme, an initiative introduced by the Institute to support students pursuing professional qualifications in accountancy.
During his opening remarks, the Secretary/CEO of ICPAU, CPA Derick Nkajja, urged the finalists to focus on building strong teams in their places of work and contribute meaningfully to the country’s economic development.
“You are anchors of operations. You are therefore expected to dive into what you put your hearts to, strongly following ethics and standards as stipulated by the profession,” remarked CPA Nkajja.
The keynote speaker, CPA Stephen Muchelule, the reigning Young Accountant of the Year, encouraged the graduates to continuously build their skills and remain adaptable in order to stay relevant in the profession.
“You have completed the course, but this does not mean that the journey has come to an end. Embrace continuous professional development and continually seek knowledge,” noted CPA Muchelule.
In his address, the President of ICPAU, CPA David Timothy Ediomu, emphasised that CPA examinations are passable, noting that the 2025 examination results demonstrated encouraging trends, particularly the strong performance of first-time candidates. He encouraged continuing students to prepare adequately, stressing that success in the programme is achievable.
The colourful ceremony concluded with remarks from the Chief Guest, Mr George Arodi, who emphasised the importance of soft skills, particularly the ability to build relationships and communicate effectively. He also urged the graduates to prioritise professional development in order to remain relevant in rapidly changing economies.
The graduates awarded at the 16th ICPAU Graduation Ceremony completed their final examinations in 2025.
