Samuel Sejjaaka, a certified Public accountant and academic, has challenged accountants to contribute to public policy-making in Uganda. He said that while many things are going on in the country, but the accountants usually don’t have a position on them.“Very many things are going on in the country. What is our position on this issue? We have kept quiet, yet we have a lot of knowledge,” said Sejjaka, also the Country Team Leader at MAT ABACUS Business School.
He challenged the accountants to research into and guide the government in making policy decisions based on researched information, and make professions more relevant in the decision-making process and public affairs.
He emphasized that solving national challenges, like debt, taxation, or governance, requires framing problems through multiple lenses. Whether economic, political, behavioural, or social, our assumptions shape our conclusions.
For the accountants, Sejjaaka says that the research agenda should include the main aspects that revolve around fiscal policy and tax administration; the cost of doing business in Uganda; economic growth and development; poverty; and business and ethical leadership.
He was speaking at the launch of an initiative by the accountants aimed at conducting research for evidence-based national policy-making.
Championed by the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU), it is hoped that it could improve government efficiency, especially in the management of public resources
. The Ugandan government has previously been accused of making budgets and other national policies and development plans without prior research.
This has then been cited as a party contributing to the country’s failure to implement its budgets ably, while it is also widely said that the country comes up with some of the best policies, only for them not to be implemented.
It has generally been noted that the contributions of accountants to the process of economic development are generally not direct; their services as external auditors of financial institutions make direct contributions to the efficient functioning of financial markets and financial management.
Professor Sejjaka said the accountants me be live to the challenges that emerged with technical advancements like Artificial Intelligence.
Accountants perform several roles in an economic system, including, amongst others, auditors, consultants, financial analysts, tax planners, and business advisers, and influence the lives of millions of people globally.
Their skills and competence are sought by companies, ranging from the smallest ones to the large multinationals, and their audit reports are viewed by millions, including shareholders, governments, regulators, investors, and the public at large.
They must inspire trust at all times in the eyes of the people. Charles Lutimba, Director Standards and Regulation at ICPAU, accountants must question existing practices so as to have every decision anchored on researched knowledge. He said the new initiative is the beginning of a new chapter.
“One where evidence-based research becomes central to how accountants think, lead, and make decisions,” which is essential to supporting national development goals, enhancing public trust and institutional resilience, shaping future-focused competencies, and informing policy, advocacy, and the evolution of standards,” he said
He urged colleagues to use their expertise to generate evidence that strengthens governance, informs policy, and advances the future of the profession.
CPA Edson Ashabahebwa, Senior Accountant at the Uganda National Oil Company, stressed the importance of research-based policy-making in the oil and gas industry, a delicate yet critical resource for world economies.
Presenting his research paper, “Tax Policy for Africa’s Energy Transition: Balancing Revenue Mobilisation and Sustainability,” he emphasized the delicate challenge facing Africa’s oil-dependent economies and how to safeguard fiscal revenues while shifting toward cleaner energy.
He suggested that Uganda has to act first on its oil and gas revenues, as by 2040, the demand will have declined, affecting revenue mobilization.
Uganda’s oil and gas industry is entering the commercial production stage at a critical time when there is a global call for a shift towards the use of cleaner energy sources.
Uganda and other developing countries, especially in Africa, have the challenge of deciding whether or not to develop their extractive industries, including oil and gas and coal, while ensuring they do not stray or lag in the energy transition, which is aimed at protecting the planet through reduced carbon emissions.
CPA Sharon Nuwasiima, a lecturer at Makerere University Business School and PhD student in Energy Economics and Governance at Makerere University, delivered a research paper on “The ESG Agenda: Driving Energy Efficiency Across Uganda’s Manufacturing Sector.”
She said that while the manufacturing sector faces high energy costs and outdated technologies, ESG-driven approaches, especially stronger environmental standards and improved workforce practices, can significantly enhance energy efficiency.
She says that long-term gains will depend on better governance incentives, modernized systems, and alignment with global sustainability frameworks.
“The future demands deeper capacity in ESG reporting, sustainable finance, and integrated performance measurement. Accountants will play a central role in shaping credible climate disclosures, developing ESG-linked cost accounting systems, and strengthening governance structures across the manufacturing ecosystem,” she says.
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