Post Bank Chief Finance Officer Peter Ssenyange scooped the overall CFO award of the year at the 9th Edition of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Awards ceremony that celebrated Uganda’s leading finance professionals for their vision, innovation, and leadership.
Organized by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) in partnership with Deloitte Uganda, the annual platform recognizes exceptional financial leaders shaping the future of business and society.
This year’s edition was held under the theme “CFO Vision: Creating Impact and Legacy”, a call for finance leaders to look beyond balance sheets and embrace their role as strategic drivers of sustainable growth and ethical leadership.
Ms. Charlotte Kukunda, Country Manager at ACCA Uganda, revealed that the 2025 edition received an unprecedented 546 nominations from 63 CFOs—a 30% increase from the previous year.
“We launched the CFO Awards on July 17, and within just 50 days, we saw record participation. It’s a sign that interest and engagement among finance leaders are growing stronger,” she said.
Kukunda noted that the awards also attracted notable participation from the public sector, with nominations from districts such as Nakapiripirit, Nebbi, Kakumiro, Lira, and Kitgum—a first in the event’s history.
“The influx of nominations from local government accountants is commendable. It shows that excellence in financial leadership is spreading beyond the private sector,” she added.
She also applauded the banking and insurance sectors, which continued to dominate submissions, with 13 CFOs from the financial industry making it to the shortlist.
Paul Ssali, Country Managing Partner at Deloitte Uganda, emphasized that the awards are not only about recognition but also reflection.
“Legacy speaks to the values we uphold, the people we mentor, and the communities we uplift,” Ssali said. “As we celebrate tonight’s winners, we must also ask ourselves what impact and legacy we are leaving behind.”
He announced that next year’s event will mark the 10th anniversary of the CFO Awards—an important milestone that will expand opportunities for engagement, mentorship, and professional development.
Delivering the keynote address, Mr. Patrick Ayota, Managing Director of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), challenged CFOs to move beyond traditional financial management roles and think as strategists and innovators.
“Every decision in an organization converges in finance. But signing payment vouchers or approving invoices is not enough,” Ayota said.
“True impact comes when CFOs help generate revenue, improve efficiency, and engage with customers and teams to co-create solutions.”
He likened great CFOs to philosophers—people who can interpret data, see patterns, and tell meaningful stories about their organizations’ performance and future.
The event’s Chief Guest, Mr. James Bantu, Assistant Auditor General at the Office of the Auditor General, applauded Uganda’s growing community of finance leaders.
“Over the past eight editions, we’ve honored 45 CFOs and presented 65 awards. That speaks to the rising importance of financial leadership as a cornerstone of institutional success,” Bantu said.
He urged CFOs to play a leading role in Uganda’s 10-fold economic growth agenda, highlighting their responsibility to ensure fiscal discipline, transparency, and innovation across both public and private sectors.
“CFOs are not just number crunchers—they are architects of strategy, custodians of integrity, and catalysts of innovation,” he emphasized.
Winners of the 9th CFO Awards
- Not-for-Profit Award: Bob Okodi, Finance Manager, Amref Health Africa
- SME Award: Amanda Ayebare, CFO, AutoXpress Uganda Limited
- Leadership Award: Irene Mwoyogwona, Head of Finance, Pride Bank Limited
- Finance Transformation & Technology Award: Ronald Makata, CFO, Stanbic Bank Uganda
- Strategy Execution Award: Emmanuel Mugagga, CFO, Uganda National Oil Company
- Compliance & Governance Award: Fredrick Kakooza, CFO, Quality Chemical Industries Limited and Ronald Makata, CFO, Stanbic Bank Uganda
- CFO of the Year (First Runner-Up): Ronald Makata, CFO, Stanbic Bank Uganda
- CFO of the Year (Winner): Peter Ssenyange, CFO, PostBank Uganda Limited
As the awards head into their 10th year, both ACCA and Deloitte pledged to continue nurturing the country’s financial talent through forums, mentorship programs, and thought leadership initiatives.
“We’ve amplified the strategic role of CFOs in Uganda and across Africa,” Ms. Kukunda noted. “Through these awards, we’re not just celebrating individuals—we’re shaping a generation of finance leaders who create sustainable impact and legacy.”