In an economy poised for exponential growth, from its current US$63 billion to an ambitious US$500 billion within 15 years, under the ‘Tenfold Growth Strategy’, the role of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) has transcended traditional stewardship to become the very engine of strategic transformation.
This profound shift was the focal point at the launch of the 9th edition of the CFO Awards Uganda 2025, an annual initiative by Deloitte Uganda and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) celebrating excellence in Uganda’s finance profession.
Under the theme, “Proactive Leadership: Shaping Culture and Forging Lasting Legacies,” this year’s awards spotlight CFOs not merely as guardians of the balance sheet, but as indispensable co-pilots steering organisational culture through cross-functional engagement and crafting a strategic footprint that benefits both their enterprises and the wider industry.
Kenneth Mumba Kalifungwa, the Chief Executive of Stanbic Bank Uganda, delivered a powerful keynote address, articulating the elevated expectations placed on today’s finance leaders.
“Success is when an organisation creates additional value, ensures unmatched dominance through exceptional customer experiences and delivers sustained returns for all stakeholders, creating a virtuous cycle where people, customers, and shareholders thrive together,” Kalifungwa asserted.
He emphasised the CFO’s critical function as a “co-pilot to the CEO,” driving pivotal decisions across investment, financing, dividend policy, and capital allocation.
This strategic imperative, according to Kalifungwa, is amplified in Uganda’s growth trajectory, which hinges on four key sectors: agro-industrialisation, tourism, mining, oil & gas, and technology, all demanding innovative capital mobilisation beyond conventional finance.
The launch event, featuring an engaging fireside chat and an interactive panel discussion, served as a crucial platform for finance leaders to network and share insights.
The consensus was clear: to attract the billions in investment needed for Uganda’s economic vision, CFOs must ensure their organisations are “investment ready” by embedding financial prudence with a forward-looking, strategic mindset.
Nurturing Excellence and Impact
The CFO Awards 2025 are designed to recognise this evolving landscape with a comprehensive array of categories, including:
Young CFO Award
Public Sector Award
Not-for-Profit Award
Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) Award
Compliance & Governance Award
Strategy Execution Award
Finance Transformation and Technology Award
Sustainability Award
Leadership Award
CFO of the Year Award
Patronella Namubiru, Director – Tax and Legal at Deloitte Uganda, highlighted the remarkable growth of the CFO Forum and the tangible achievements of past participants, many of whom have advanced to notable leadership positions.
She underscored the awards’ role in fostering planned network forums and emphasised the profound importance of legacy and impact, urging CFOs to consider the enduring footprint they leave, both personally and organisationally.
As a testament to this commitment to continuous development, Namubiru spotlighted the inaugural CFO Winners Workshop held in April 2025, a first-of-its-kind event designed for previous awardees to reflect, learn, and sharpen their leadership capabilities.
As Uganda embarks on its ambitious journey to a US$500 billion economy, the CFO Awards stand as a beacon, celebrating the financial architects who are not just managing numbers but strategically shaping culture, driving innovation, and building enduring legacies that will define the nation’s prosperity for generations to come.
For finance leaders across Uganda, this is more than an awards ceremony; it’s a call to action to lead beyond the ledger.