KAMPALA, Uganda — The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU) released the results of its May 2025 examination diet Monday, with more than 6,600 candidates sitting for various accounting qualifications.
The results were announced at the Protea Hotel by Marriott Kampala Skyz in Naguru, presided over by ICPAU President CPA Josephine Okui Ossiya and Public Accountants Examinations Board (PAEB) Chairperson CPA Laura Aseru Orobia.
Ossiya commended the candidates for their resilience and commitment. She also noted that the exam release marks her final official event as president, as her tenure concludes later this month. She praised the council, examination teams and all stakeholders for maintaining the profession’s integrity and high standards.
“As CPA finalists, you now carry the responsibility of putting your skills to good use. Use your knowledge to create value in your workplaces, contribute to your communities, and help build a better economy,” Ossiya said.
A total of 6,628 candidates sat for the May examinations, a slight decrease of 2.46% from December 2024. The Certified Public Accountant (CPA) course attracted 6,428 candidates, while 122 sat for the Certified Tax Advisor (CTA) exams, and 78 attempted the Accounting Technicians Diploma (ATD).
The CPA course recorded an average pass rate of 36.9%, a marginal improvement from December’s 35.6%. Level I saw the strongest performance with a 48.7% pass rate, while Level II, III and IV registered 31.3%, 29.5% and 43.9%, respectively. Female candidates constituted 57% of all CPA scripts, continuing a trend of strong female participation. Among the CPA finalists, 99 students completed the course, bringing the cumulative number of graduates to 5,341.
For the CTA program, candidates performed notably well with an average pass rate of 57.1%, up from 48.5% in December 2024. The most significant improvement was in the Tax Compliance & Ethics paper, which soared from a 16.7% pass rate to 75.9%. Six students successfully completed the CTA program, increasing the cumulative number of graduates to 106.
Meanwhile, the ATD course registered a dip in performance with an average pass rate of 41.2%, down from 51% in December. The best-performing papers included Business Communication and Business Mathematics & Statistics, both achieving 100% pass rates. However, the Principles of Cost & Management Accounting paper saw a sharp decline to 17.2% from 40%. Ten students completed the ATD program, pushing the total number of graduates to 1,882.
PAEB Chairperson Orobia highlighted the board’s ongoing initiatives, such as virtual student engagements and pre-exam briefing sessions, to improve student engagement.
“We have seen a slight improvement in the engagement sessions, and we want to encourage the students to participate. We have also introduced the briefing sessions to support students on the basics we require,” Orobia disclosed. “Despite these efforts, only 44% of registered candidates attended the engagements, a figure the board hopes to improve.”
The 13th CPA Economic Forum is scheduled for July 9-11, 2025, at Imperial Resort Beach Hotel in Entebbe, under the theme “Sustainable Economic Growth: Transforming Today, Thriving Tomorrow.” Additionally, the 2025 Accountancy Service Awards are set for Oct. 3, while the 15th Financial Reporting (FiRe) Awards will spotlight sustainability practices.
