Allen Kagina, Executive Director of UNRA has urged Ugandans move out of coercion rather complaining and blaming everything to complying and getting involved in key aspects that concern Uganda including good environment practices.
Kagina made these comments at the 29th ICPAU Annual Seminar at Imperial Resort Beach Hotel in Entebbe. Speaking at the seminar, Kagina revealed that different entities including UNRA which she heads ought to take necessary steps to implement ESGs in line with the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards as adopted by Uganda.
“We are always landing in trouble because we have not built in the standards for the work we do. I give you an example of UNRA, when we go about our business of road constructions, we end up destroying forests, fauna and flora among others and when we do, say for the case of forests, when they (forests) are destroyed, it possess in huge effects to the environment and leads to climate change, causes diseases and epidemics among others.”
In line with the seminar’s theme: Driving Sustainability & Trust, Kagina emphasized that, “sustainability of the environment must be a key aspect in our daily work. Good stewards should move from just the board rooms to the actual ground and to the actual people.”
Kagina recalls the compensation procedure undertaken by UNRA through the government of Uganda where those affected by the road constructions, rather evictees, had to receive their compensation in form of cash.
“We used to face challenges when evicting people affected by the road constructions, some people literally would die of happiness because most of them are vulnerable and have not seen such huge amount of money and for men, some of them end up using it to marry in another wife or pay off their debts/loans and just so you know, they deviate from the major aim of the compensation.”
While delivering the keynote speech on Driving Sustainability & Trust, Dr. Ndidi Nnoli-Edozien, a member of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) said, “We welcome global initiatives to introduce sustainability reporting standards that complement financial reporting. ISSB’s work is vital in directing finance where it’s needed most”.
CPA Josephine Ossiya, President of ICPAU noted that the theme for the 29th ICPAU Annual Seminar underpins the critical pillars of the accountancy profession. Ossiya said, “Accountants play a pivotal role in helping organizations navigate through Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity.”
Running under the theme “Driving Sustainability and Trust,” the 3-day seminar is aimed at exploring the critical role accountants play in promoting sustainable practices and fostering trust within the profession.
The seminar is tackling a wide range of topics, including sustainable finance, mental health and wellness, and managing land transactions, offering participants a holistic professional development experience.
Additionally, every year on top of the topical discussions, attendees enjoy recreational activities including joy sailing, excursions to the Entebbe Reptile Village, and entertainment by Abeeka Band and Azawi among others.
The most significant highlight for this year’s edition is the launch of the ICPAU Benevolent Fund and the 2024 Accountancy Service Awards, alongside a special farewell to CPA John Bosco Ntangaare, ICPAU’s long-serving Director of Education.
Since its inception in 1995, the Annual Seminar has been a cornerstone for accountants in Uganda, providing an essential platform for Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
The ongoing event being attended by over 1,500 professionals is supported by Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Ltd, Airtel Uganda and Civil Aviation Authority of Uganda. The seminar will be climaxed with the 2024 Accountancy Service Awards and gala dinner which will see notable accountants walk home with accolades.
