Emmily Namwano is an accounts officer at MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management (Accounting) from Uganda Martyrs University, Nkozi, and she is pursuing an MBA at Makerere University. Emmily is a beneficiary of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU) Student Scholarship Programme under the third cohort. Through the programme, she completed the Certified Public Accountants (CPA) course in December 2025, emerging as the best female candidate and the second-best overall in the country. She is committed to excelling in accountancy and improving her technical competence and leadership skills.
She shares her experience studying CPA under the ICPAU Student Scholarship Programme.
- How did you hear about the Student Scholarship Programme?
I learned about the SSP through my elder brother, CPA Jude Buyeera. At the time, I had just enroled for the CPA course, and I had completed two papers, Financial Accounting and Quantitative Techniques, using self-study. When he encouraged me to apply, I seized the opportunity, and by God’s grace, I am privileged to have been selected as one of the 10 beneficiaries of the ICPAU Student Scholarship Programme under the 3rd cohort.
- How has being a beneficiary of the SSP helped you in your CPA journey?
Being a beneficiary of the ICPAU SSP was a turning point in my CPA journey. The scholarship covered all costs related to tuition, examinations fees, annual subscription and study material,, allowing me to focus on my studies without financial distress.
The scholarship not only offered financial support, but it also inculcated a strong sense of discipline, responsibility and focus. Being selected as one of only 10 beneficiaries from hundreds of applicants motivated me to stay committed, balancing work and studies effectively. Without this opportunity, completing the CPA course and emerging as a best female student would not have been easy to achieve.
- What were the biggest challenges you faced while studying the CPA course, and how did you overcome them?
The main challenges I faced were the tuition burden and limited time due to work demands that made balancing work and study difficult.
To overcome these challenges, I adopted a disciplined self-study approach, initially, attempting one paper at a time to build a steady foundation. I strived to pass all the papers through continuous self-assessment, use of CPA past papers and examiners’ guides from the ICPAU student portal and following the CPA syllabus closely. This structured approach, combined with persistence and focus, enabled me to complete the course.
- How did it feel to emerge as the best female candidate in your diet. What strategies helped you to achieve this?
It was both humbling and fulfilling. Knowing the journey I had gone through to finish the course made the achievement deeply meaningful. Emerging and being recognised as the best female candidate and second best overall was a confirmation that persistence and commitment pay off.
Some strategies that helped me included, consistent self-study and disciplined time management, practising various past papers, strategic focus on technical areas and studying with the mindset of applying the acquired knowledge.
- How do you apply the skills and knowledge from the CPA course in your current work?
The CPA course has strengthened my technical competence, analytical thinking and ethical judgment. I now approach financial reporting, budgeting, internal controls and decision-making with greater confidence and accuracy.
The course improved my ability to interpret financial statements, assess risk and ensure compliance with accounting standards and regulatory frameworks. Additionally, the CPA journey built resilience, discipline and problem-solving skills, qualities that extend beyond technical knowledge into leadership and management.
- What significance does completing CPA hold for you personally and professionally?
Completing CPA is a moment of gratitude and fulfillment. It represents years of hard work, sacrifice, resilience and the unwavering support of ICPAU, family, friends and mentors. It is a testimony of what faith, discipline and opportunity can achieve.
Graduating at the 16th ICPAU Ceremony marked my formal entry into the community of Certified Public Accountants entrusted with safeguarding financial integrity. It strengthened my credibility and positions me for greater leadership opportunities within the profession.
Completing CPA is not just the end of a course, but the beginning of a greater responsibility to serve with excellence and uphold the standards of the accounting profession in Uganda .
- What advice would you give to aspiring accountants looking to benefit from the SSP?
They should believe that they are capable of being selected, hence they should apply since the selection is free and fair.
If given opportunity as a scholarship beneficiary, treat it as both a privilege and a responsibility. The SSP is not just financial support, it is an investment in your potential. Remain disciplined, accountable and committed to excellence.
Understand that the CPA journey requires resilience and sacrifice. If a paper does not go well, re-strategise and retake it with a positive mindset because failing a paper does not mean you are a failure, rather it often strengthens your understanding and mastery of the concepts.
Additionally, evaluate and choose the study approach that works best for you whether it is attending classes, group discussions or self-study. The accounting profession is built on ethics and credibility which you must uphold.
