The Public Accountants Examinations Board (PAEB), chaired by CPA Prof. Laura Orobia, on Monday, January 6, 2025, released the results for the December 2024 examination, marking the conclusion of a dynamic year for professional accountancy education in Uganda.
This diet saw a significant increase in participation and provided a mixed bag of results for the Certified Public Accountants (CPA), Accounting Technician Diploma (ATD), and Certified Tax Advisor (CTA) courses.
Record Participation Across Courses
A total of 6,795 candidates sat for the December 2024 exams, a 6.6% increase from May 2024’s 6,375 candidates. The exams were held at seven centers; Arua, Fort Portal, Gulu, Kampala, Mbale, Mbarara, and Nkozi in the period between December 2, and 6. Participation was divided among the three courses, with CPA candidates comprising the majority at 6,555, followed by 94 ATD candidates and 146 CTA candidates.
The overall growth reflects the increasing demand for professional certifications in accounting and taxation, but the results also highlighted challenges in core subjects, particularly in the CPA and CTA courses.
CPA Course: Promising Growth Amid Declining Pass Rates
The CPA course registered substantial participation, with 6,555 candidates presenting 11,207 scripts. Female candidates formed a slight majority, contributing 6,356 scripts compared to 4,851 by males. Overall, 3,993 scripts registered passes, representing a pass rate of 35.6%, a notable decline from the 43.7% recorded in May 2024.
When analyzed by gender, female candidates achieved 57.7% of the passes, outperforming their male counterparts who achieved 42.3%.
In terms of age distribution, the majority of successful candidates (39.5%) were aged 25–29 years, with 67.1% of passes scored on the first attempt.
However, significant challenges emerged in key papers, particularly Paper 7 (Financial Reporting) and Paper 12 (Advanced Financial Reporting), where pass rates plummeted to 10.6% and 11.1%, respectively, from over 30% in May. Despite these challenges, 111 students completed the CPA course in December 2024, a rise from 81 in May. Of these graduates, 55.9% were female, and 44.1% were male. The cumulative number of CPA graduates has now reached 5,242.
ATD Course: Transitioning Phase and Gender Dominance.
The ATD course, which transitioned to the Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB) with effect this month, saw 94 candidates sit for the December exams. These candidates presented 263 scripts, with an average pass rate of 51%, a slight decline from 54.7% in May.
Female candidates dominated the ATD results, forming 62% of the participants and contributing 67.2% of the passes. Passes by age group showed that younger candidates performed better, with 56.7% of successful scripts coming from the 18–24 age bracket.
Despite a drop in pass rates for some papers, such as Paper 1 (Principles of Accounting) and Paper 9 (Financial Accounting), 15 students completed the ATD course, bringing the cumulative total to 1,872.
This marked a small decline from the 17 who completed the course in May. The phased transition to UBTEB allows continuing students a two-year period to complete their certification under PAEB.
CTA Course: Challenges in Advanced Taxation
The CTA course, aimed at equipping professionals with specialized tax advisory skills, presented unique challenges in the December diet.
Of the 146 candidates who sat for the exams, 127 scripts (48.5%) registered passes, down from 52.3% in May. Male candidates dominated the pass rate, contributing 76 passes compared to 51 by females.
The bulk of passes (76.4%) were achieved by candidates above the age of 30, reflecting the advanced nature of the course. Moreover, 70.9% of passes were achieved on the first attempt.
Key papers, however, recorded sharp declines in performance. For instance, Paper 3 (Principles of Taxation) saw its pass rate drop from 77.8% in May to 40%, while Paper 9 (Tax Compliance and Ethics) and Paper 10 (International Taxation) also registered significant declines. No candidates scored the minimum 60% required for recognition in several key subjects.
Despite these challenges, 12 candidates completed the CTA course, compared to seven in May, raising the cumulative number of CTA graduates to 100.
Female Candidates Shine
Across all three courses, female candidates consistently outperformed their male counterparts in participation, pass rates, and top positions.
In the CPA course, 57.7% of passes and 11 of the top 21 positions were achieved by females. Similarly, in the ATD course, female candidates claimed eight of the 11 top positions.
This consistent trend highlights the growing role of women in professional accounting and tax advisory fields, paving the way for greater gender equity in these traditionally male-dominated professions.
Future Outlook
While the December 2024 results showcase growth in participation and course completions, they also underline critical challenges in specific subject areas. Declining pass rates in key CPA and CTA papers suggest a need for enhanced preparatory resources, curriculum reviews, and targeted interventions to improve performance.
As the ATD course transitions to UBTEB, stakeholders must ensure a seamless process to maintain the course’s relevance and appeal.
Additionally, the upward trend in female participation and performance is a promising sign of a more inclusive future for Uganda’s accounting and taxation sectors.