Fredrick Kakooza, Chief Finance Officer of Quality Chemical Industries Limited, has been named Uganda’s 2026 Chief Finance Officer (CFO) of the Year at the 10th annual ACCA Uganda and Deloitte Uganda CFO Awards.
Kakooza, who also won the Leadership Award, emerged as the overall winner at the ceremony held at Kampala Serena Hotel on October 16, 2026, recognising his contribution to financial leadership and business performance.
Josephine Njoroge, Finance Director at Uganda Breweries Limited, was named first runner-up and received the Strategy Execution Award.
Held under the theme “A Decade of Excellence, a Legacy of Leadership, Shaping the Future,” the awards brought together senior executives, finance professionals and business leaders to celebrate a decade of achievements in Uganda’s finance profession.
Finance leaders take on broader business roles
Since their inception in 2017, the awards have recognised finance professionals across the private sector, public institutions and not-for-profit organisations.
According to the organisers, the previous nine editions saw 50 chief finance officers receive a combined 74 awards, with several winners later advancing into senior executive positions.
Yusta Kasenge, a partner at Deloitte East Africa, said the progression of former winners into broader leadership roles demonstrates how the CFO position can serve as a pathway to enterprise leadership.
Among those cited were Alvin Mbugua, the 2017 winner who later became managing director of Uganda Breweries Limited; Godfrey Byekwaso, the 2020 winner who progressed into managing director roles; and Kate Kabaingi Kiizaa, the 2024 winner who advanced into executive leadership at dfcu Bank.
“The CFO role does not have to be a destination. It can be a launchpad,” Kasenge said.
The 2026 awards attracted 407 nominations, with 37 CFOs qualifying from a pool of 53 assessed candidates. Twenty-one of those who qualified were participating for the first time.
AI and integrity in focus
Guest of Honour Sanjay Tanna, Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, urged finance professionals to embrace technological change while maintaining professional ethics and accountability.
Tanna said chief finance officers have an important role in balancing business ambitions with financial discipline and identifying opportunities for sustainable growth.
He also encouraged finance professionals to support Uganda’s economic potential, particularly in tourism, science, technology and innovation.
“I believe the people and organisations that embrace AI today will be among the winners of the next decade,” Tanna said.
However, he cautioned that technological advancement must not compromise trust and accountability.
“Numbers may change. Technology will certainly change. The role of the CFO will continue to change. But trust will always remain at the centre of leadership,” he said.
CFOs urged to shape strategy
Josephine Okui Ossiya, Chief Executive Officer of the Capital Markets Authority Uganda, said finance leaders should play a more active role in shaping business decisions rather than merely reporting financial outcomes after decisions have been made.
She identified trustworthy financial information, strategy execution, responsible technology adoption, professional development and sustainability as key responsibilities for modern CFOs.
Ossiya also highlighted the importance of sound financial governance in strengthening Uganda’s capital markets and expanding access to long-term financing.
She urged finance leaders to measure their success not only through financial performance but also through the quality of decisions they influence, the trust they build and the professionals they develop.
Full list of winners
The 2026 awards recognised finance professionals across nine competitive categories, alongside the overall CFO of the Year and first runner-up distinctions.
- CFO of the Year: Fredrick Kakooza, Quality Chemical Industries Limited
- First Runner-up: Josephine Njoroge, Uganda Breweries Limited
- Leadership: Fredrick Kakooza, Quality Chemical Industries Limited
- Strategy Execution: Josephine Njoroge, Uganda Breweries Limited
- Finance Transformation: Simon Mugisha, Movit Africa Limited, and Karen Atamba, Biyinzika Poultry Uganda
- Young CFO: Caroline Akello, Acclaim Africa Limited
- Compliance and Governance: Eunice Muheirwe, Nile Breweries Limited
- Sustainability: Ronald Makata, Stanbic Bank Uganda Limited
- Public Sector: Susan Taffumba Isubikalu, Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited
- SME: Phiona Aisu, Oryx Energies Uganda Limited
- Not-for-Profit: Drollah Ssebagala, Joint Clinical Research Centre
The awards were organised by ACCA Uganda in partnership with Deloitte Uganda, with support from several sponsors and partners, including Centenary Bank, Movit Products, Uganda Breweries Limited, Uganda Wildlife Authority, Kampala Serena Hotel, NBS TV and MTN TV by AfroMobile.
As the awards enter their second decade, the organisers say the initiative will continue to recognise financial professionals whose leadership contributes to stronger governance, innovation and sustainable business growth in Uganda.