The 2025 Uganda CFO Awards have officially been launched at the Kampala Serena Hotel, marking the ninth edition of this prestigious awards program. Organized by ACCA Uganda in partnership with Deloitte, the awards celebrate excellence in financial leadership, spotlighting Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) as strategic leaders and agents of lasting change.
Charlotte Kukunda, Country Manager for ACCA Uganda, emphasized the growing influence and visibility of CFOs in Uganda’s corporate landscape. “We need to help people envision themselves as CFOs. Over the past three years, the transformation in our database is amazing. We have managed to amplify the role of CFOs, and I look forward to your nominations,” Kukunda said.
The awards program features 10 categories, including Not-for-Profit, SME, Public Sector, Compliance and Governance, Strategy Execution, Finance Transformation and Technology, Sustainability, Leadership, and Young CFO (capped at 35 years of age). Nominations close on Friday, September 5, with winners to be announced at a gala event in November.
The event has garnered support from prominent corporate partners, including Stanbic Bank, Uganda Airlines, and BIC. Uganda Airlines has enhanced the prize pot with two business-class tickets and two economy tickets to any of its 15 destinations for winners.
Mumba Kenneth Kalifungwa FCCA, CEO of Stanbic Bank Uganda, delivered the keynote address, exploring the legacy theme. “Legacy is how you will be remembered. For me, it’s about leaving a system better than you found it. It’s not just about execution, it’s about understanding people and systems,” Kalifungwa said.
A panel discussion featuring finance leaders from both public and private sectors further deepened the conversation on the evolving role of CFOs. Panelists included Godfrey Ssemugooma FCCA, Acting Accountant General, Ministry of Finance; Nirav Patel FCCA, Executive Director, Steel and Tube Industries Ltd; and Paul Kavuma, CEO, Jubilee Allianz General Insurance.
The panelists emphasized the importance of ethics, business sustainability, and accountability in financial leadership. Patel noted, “Intention and character are at the heart of ethical decision-making.” Kavuma added, “A CFO must interpret business trends, manage stakeholders, and secure long-term business viability.” Ssemugooma highlighted the universal nature of accountability: “Whether in the public or private sector, success is measured by the value you create and the services you deliver.”
The awards program also features capacity-building sessions, such as the CFO Workshop. The selection process for winners is guided by seven pillars of excellence: expertise, collaboration, digital acumen, drive, insight, sustainability, and leadership.
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