ICPAU Issues Three Gold Service Awards as it Celebrates Thirty Years

The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU) issued three Gold Awards at the 2022 Accountancy Service Awards held on 2 September 2022.

The Gold Awardees were:

1. Gustavio Orach Lujwero Bwoch – Former Accountant General of Uganda. He received the Gold Award for, among others, his service to the accountancy profession for many years, preparation of the program for the sponsorship of government employees in finance roles to undertake the Accounting Technician’s Diploma and Certified Public Accountants (CPA) courses, and promoting digitisation of government accounting.

 

In an acceptance speech delivered for him by his daughter, CPA Brenda Abalo, Bwoch expressed his gratitude to ICPAU and the government for giving him the position as an Accountant General and thanked CPAs for supporting him in his roles over the years.

 

• The Late Jehoash Mayanja Nkangi, Former Minister for Finance of Uganda. He received the Gold Award for, among other qualities, having the courage to sign the Statutory Instrument that removed non-accountants from the Schedule of Accountants. Under his leadership at the Ministry of Finance between 1989-1992, ICPAU was earmarked and received a seed grant for its inception.

 

In an acceptance speech, his daughter Ms. Josephine Mayanja Nkangi thanked the Institute for remembering the former minister. She quoted Proverbs 10.7 and thanked the Institute for recognising the late Mayanja Nkangi’s uncompromisingly righteous nature. 

 

• CPA John F.S. Muwanga – Auditor General of Uganda. Under his tenure as the Director of Accounts, the Ministry started taking part in the ICPAU Council activities and since then both the Ministry of Finance and Office of the OAG have had active representation in the ICPAU Council.

 

In his acceptance speech, the Auditor General said,

 

“I am greatly honoured to receive this Award on behalf of the Office of the Auditor General. The credit goes to all the staff of the Office of the Auditor General who have worked relentlessly to audit and report to our stakeholders in order to improve public accountability and delivery of services to the public.”

 

He also acknowledged the Institute’s work in uplifting the standards of the accounting and auditing profession in Uganda.

 

Other Awards were issued as follows:

1. Longest Service Award: Mr Cones Biine – Transport Officer, ICPAU. For his service at ICPAU since for 25 years, since 1997.

 

2. Social Service Award: Dr Lawrence Mulindwa – President of Vipers Sports Club.

For his outstanding contributions to the development of education and sports in Uganda.

3. Unique Humanitarian Service to Society Award: Dr Rose Alenyo - Makerere University/Smile Care. For her contribution to the development of the community through the provision of free surgical services to children with cleft lip and those with post-burn complications.

 

4.     Long-Serving Member in Volunteer Service Award: The Late CPA Fawn E. Cousens – Former Partner at BDO East Africa. For her service to the Institute as a member of the Member Services Committee and other Committees of the Council of ICPAU for over 27 years, and for her passion, commitment, and inspiration to the young generation.

 

5.    Long-Term Institutional Partner Award:

• Bank of Uganda: For among others, outstanding contributions towards the success of the accountancy profession through supporting the Institute during its formative years and to date, ringfencing accounting and finance in the Central bank roles for professional accountants, providing financial support to the Institute for over 15 years.
• Ministry of Finance, Planning & Economic Development: For among others, its commitment to promoting the accountancy profession through providing financial support to the Institute, sponsoring staff to undertake the Certified Public Accountants course, being key in the enactment and enforcement of the Accountants Act, 2013.

 

6.    Accounting Firm of The Year Award: BIZ & CO. For among others, embedding quality within its operations to drive business growth, engaging in pro-bono activity, supporting staff development and continuously embracing technology. 

 

7.    Finance Team of The Year Award: Wazalendo Savings and Credit Cooperative Society: For embracing technology for both its internal processes and service delivery, supporting staff development, ring-fencing the finance roles in the organisation for professional accountants as spelt out in the Accountants Act, 2013, consistent excellence in financial reporting, strong demonstration of teamwork, and efficient service to its members.

 

8.    Young Accountant of The Year Award:

• CPA Budalah Nsubuga – Senior Accountant, New Vision: For exhibiting entrepreneurial flair through the establishment of a training college for the CPA qualification, demonstrating technical proficiency in International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), establishing innovative ways to reduce the tax liability of his employer, being an exceptional team player, and service on the Member Services Committee of the ICPAU Council.
• CPA Samuel Aggrey Mankaati, Assistant Manager – Internal Audit, Deposit Protection Fund. For being instrumental in training young aspiring professional accountants, exhibiting entrepreneurial flair through the establishment of an accredited Tuition Provider of the CPA qualification, innovativeness, excellent career performance, and continuous service on the Professional Standards Committee and the Editorial Board of ICPAU Council

 

9.    CPA of the Year Award: CPA Nicholus Mushabenta – Partner, BDO East Africa. For being a role model in professional conduct and technical proficiency, openly sharing knowledge through delivering presentations at Continuing Professional Development trainings, service on the Professional Services Committee of the Council of ICPAU, excellent career performance, and providing visionary leadership to the CPA SACCO.

 

The Accountancy Service Awards are premium annual awards of excellence introduced in 2015 to recognise persons or entities that have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of the accountancy profession in Uganda and beyond. Contenders are nominated by members of ICPAU.

With the commemoration of thirty years, ICPAU introduced new categories of Awards, namely, the Unique Humanitarian Award, the Social Service Award, Long Serving Member in Volunteer Service Award, Long Term Institutional Partner, and the Longest Service Award. This, in order to increase the scope of recognition by acknowledging and rewarding individuals who have impacted both the accountancy profession and the community in the areas of humanitarian relief and assistance, education, health, civil society, equitable economic development, environment, and public policy.

CPA Derick Nkajja, the Chief Executive Officer of ICPAU said, “In the face of growing disruptions, every year, we add new Accountancy Service Awards categories to recognise and award contributions made towards alleviating the impact of prevailing circumstances, as a way of increasing the relevance of the Awards.”

The 2022 Awards were held at the Imperial Resort Beach Hotel, Entebbe.

Previous winners of the Awards include:

• Gold Service Award: Prof. Kaawaase is a partner at Sejjaaka Kaawaase & Co.
• CPA of the Year Award: CPA Joseph Kalinda, a Practitioner at Kalinda & Associates.
• Young Accountant of the Year Award: CPA Cosma Senyonga of the Uganda Retirement Benefits Authority.
• Accounting Firm of the Year Award: Springs Tugye and Associates LLP
• Finance Team of the Year Award: Baylor College of Medicine Children's Foundation Uganda.
• COVID-19 Lifeline Award (individual category): Prof. Patrick Ogwang Engeu, the founder of Jena Herbals Uganda Limited.
• COVID Lifeline Award (Finance Team): NBS TV (Next Media Services)

These were recognised at the 2021 Accountancy Service Awards on 10 December 2021.

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