Yesterday, 26th March 2025, The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda, through the CPA Ankole Regional Members Network, held a career orientation day at Bishop Stuart University under the theme Mindset and Attitude towards Accountancy Profession
We can agree that the professional accountancy space is growing wider every day. Organisations, private, public and the international space are increasingly seeking accounting services and this must be provided by Professional Accountants.
The emanating challenge of professional staff constraints, i.e., limitations in attracting, hiring and retaining staff, poses a new concern for the profession. There is no doubt because of the shifts in employee expectations, a weak pipeline of new accounting officers, graduates entering the profession and a growing number of seasoned professionals seeking retirement have worsened the issue. ICPAU can’t sit and watch this continue. The career orientation was intended to cultivate a mindset and attitude of BSU students to love and plan to join the accountancy profession program as early as possible.
CPA. Prof. Laura Orobia, the Chairperson of the Public Accountants Examinations Board and Member of the ICPAU Council, took the participants through the overview and benefits of the accountancy profession and what they need to join. She encouraged students to join the CPA program and give it the attention it deserves to allow them to finish the course in the shortest possible time. She told them that Accountants are: creators of value, enablers of value, preservers of value and reporters of value. These roles make accountants yearned for by every organization and government at large.
The Ankole Regional Network Chairman, CPA Isaac Muzoora, thanked BSU management for opening the gate for such a noble cause that is going to help students, organisations and the economy at large. He emphasised the need to look far and start the professional journey now rather than later. The participants were told that becoming a CPA is the beginning. To flourish in the profession, one must stay up to date with industry developments, cultivate strong ethics and integrity, and network and build relationships.
The management of Bishop Stuart University, represented by the Finance Director, CPA Ben Nuwagaba, thanked ICPAU for such a generous and thoughtful gesture of giving back to the community. He termed the orientation workshop as a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by ICPAU and Ankole RMN. He called upon the participants to take the learnings from the team seriously and set their sights on the accountancy profession. The day ended well with the Institute giving out goodies for students who participated more and there was a photo moment for reference and communication purposes.
