By Joan Abaasa,
Communications Intern,
ICPAU
The ICPAU is proud to announce that CPA Keto Kayemba, has been elected as the President of the Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA) for a two year term, effective 2023 - 2025. The announcement was made at the 46th Annual General Meeting of PAFA on 14 May, 2023 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
CPA Kayemba, who previously served as the PAFA Vice President from 2021-2023, succeeded Cosme Goundété of Ordre des Experts-Comptables et Comptables Agréés (OECCA) du Bénin.
PAFA is the representative of the Professional Accountancy Organisations (PAOs) on the African continent. The various PAOs constitute the membership of PAFA across Africa. As a member-based body, it has a Governing Board that is elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). CPA Keto Kayemba was elected at the AGM that preceded the Africa Congress of Accountants (ACOA 2023). The ACOA 2023 was held in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire from 15 – 18 May under the theme: Structural Transformation and Growth of African Economies.
As the newly elected PAFA President, CPA Keto Kayemba expressed her gratitude to the General Assembly for the trust they had placed in her, and pledged to strengthen PAFA’s role in shaping the future of the Accountancy profession in Africa. She also thanked the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU) for fronting her to lead the Accountancy profession on the African continent.
CPA Derick Nkajja, the Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda welcomed CPA Kayemba’s election as a win not only for Uganda, but also for the entire Accountancy profession in Africa.
“CPA Kayemba’s election as the President of PAFA solidifies Uganda's standing on the global stage,” CPA Nkajja said.
“Given Uganda’s exceptional track record in the Public Financial Management (PFM) space, the new role opens doors for enhanced collaboration and knowledge sharing on PFM matters, which will strengthen the profession on the continent, as PFM forms the core of accountability for economies,” he added.
When she was elected Vice President in 2021, her goal was to shape a PAFA that creates long-term value for Africa as a whole, through harnessing the support of its member organisations and their individual members. As Vice President of PAFA, CPA Kayemba was part of the team which steered the implementation of the 2022-2024 PAFA strategic plan, under a revised vision and mission. Achievements were registered in: harnessing stakeholder relationships to operationalise projects and facilitate the achievement of PAFA goals sustainably, enhancing the PAFA Brand through increased online presence and engagement, strengthening the capacity of the Accountancy profession through growing the membership, and strengthening the influence of the Accountancy profession through participating in global standards development.
CPA Keto Kayemba is credited for her strong leadership in public sector audits and a strong proponent of public value management in service delivery to citizens. CPA Keto Kayemba retired as Assistant Auditor General of the Republic of Uganda in 2022. She has also served as: Deputy Chair, Professional Accountancy Development Committee (PAODC) of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC); a member of the Council of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU) representing the Office of the Auditor General for over 15 years; and Chairperson of the Public Accountants Examinations Board of ICPAU for 3 years. She is a member and past President of the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), Kampala Chapter.
She is also a mentor and role model to women in accountancy. Her desire is to see women scaling the leadership ladders in the profession, public service and corporate world.
She holds a Master of Science in Energy Management of the Robert Gordon University-Aberdeen and a Master of Business Administration of Makerere University.
PAFA is the representative of the professional accountancy organisations on the African continent. The organisation aims to build effective professional accountancy organisations which deliver dedicated accountancy professionals who drive quality governance, financial management, reporting and auditing in the public and private sectors. PAFA’s strategic objectives and their economic and societal benefits are aimed at creating long-term value and contributing to the realisation of the African Union Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). PAFA’s membership consists of 56 Professional Accountancy Organisations (PAOs) in 45 countries across Africa. The PAOs represent more than 125,000 professional accountants.
The Newly elected PAFA Board 2023 – 2025
1. President: CPA Keto Kayemba from Uganda
2. Vice President: Mr Walid Ben Salah from Tunisia
3. Elected Regional Representatives:
• Central Africa, National Order of Chartered Accountants of Congo (ONEC DR Congo) (re-elected)
• East Africa - Ordre des Professionnels Comptables du Burundi (OPC Burundi)
• North Africa - Oec-Ordre Des Experts-Comptables Du Maroc (Morocco Certified Public Accountants Association)
• Southern Africa- Mauritius Institute of Professional Accountants
• West Africa - ONECCA-BF
4. Confirmed (re-appointed) five largest member organisations:
• South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), South Africa
• Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) Platform, Nigeria
• South African Institute of Professional Accountants, (SAIPA) South Africa
• Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK), Kenya
• Association Of National Accountants of Nigeria, Nigeria
END.
