A finance career in the NGO sector allows you to do work that directly impacts lives and communities. Every NGO has a unique set of stakeholders and I find engaging with them an avenue for constant professional development. International reporting standards for not-for-profit organisations are still being established, and producing financial statements that comply with these standards requires constant learning which makes for intriguing work. The NGO sector also has a different angle towards environment social and governance, and gaining an understanding of this is also interesting.
Naguru Teenage Centre is a not-for-profit organisation providing sexual health information and services for young people aged 15 to 24. As the leading local organisation for the wellbeing and uplifting of young people, it operates in a highly regulated and competitive environment. The finance function ensures that the organisation is efficient, compliant, and gives high value and impact, while fully meeting the funder’s requirements.
I have been supporting the finance function at Naguru Teenage Centre since October 2024 and find it a highly fulfilling place to work. It has been key in shaping the character of so many young people and helping them make the right life choices. By encouraging them to stay away from risky behaviour it contributes to the reduction of HIV infections and early pregnancies.
The people and the camaraderie in the office are what I enjoy most about my job. The culture of volunteerism and community service resonates with me, and the centre staff demonstrate a high level of mutual respect and support. They really do go the extra mile to deliver value to the stakeholders with a smile and a positive spirit.
Young people deserve a good education
Having started my career in the customary fashion as an audit associate on PwC’s graduate recruitment programme, I later joined Uganda’s civil service. At the Population Secretariat, the forerunner to the National Population Council, I undertook several roles – internal auditor, senior internal auditor and then principal accountant – while also working on many ancillary assignments. These included superintending the institutional savings and credit cooperative society (SACCO) as treasurer and later chairperson, and also serving as the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) project focal finance officer.
If I had law-making powers, I would reform the education system of Uganda to provide a quality, inclusive and subsidised education compulsory up to age 16. Young people deserve a good education.
My favourite quote comes from Benjamin Franklin: ‘Be civil to all; sociable to many; familiar with few; friend to one; enemy to none.’ I like this as it is a call for mutual respect and appreciation so that we can live in harmony despite the differences we might have. I also appreciate the advice for us to avoid having enemies.
Staff go the extra mile to deliver value with a smile and a positive spirit
The biggest achievement of my life is my family of four dear children and my wife. Career-wise, my biggest milestone was joining the PwC graduate programme. I was one of only 13 successful candidates chosen from over 1,000 applicants. My experience at PwC, coupled with my ACCA qualification and continuous professional development, have enabled me to deliver valuable business insights to the organisations I have worked for.
If I wasn’t an accountant, I would have been interested in a legal career. I have always loved legal practice as it is analytical, highly engaging and contributes to nation building, all of which speaks to my skills and attributes.
When I am not at work, I enjoy time with my family, especially playing scrabble with my siblings. I read and listen to educational and entertainment content when I can, and I also love travelling with my family and several travel buddies. Together, we have toured many game parks, hiked Mount Muhavura – an inactive volcano on the Rwanda-Uganda border – and also taken part in several marathons.
