Uganda
| Extent of IFRS application | Status | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| IFRS Standards are required for domestic public companies |
|
IFRS Standards required for listed companies, financial institutions and government-invested companies. |
| IFRS Standards are permitted but not required for domestic public companies | ||
| IFRS Standards are required or permitted for listings by foreign companies |
|
Required. |
| The IFRS for SMEs Standard is required or permitted |
|
Permitted, except that some private companies with State investments are required to use full IFRS Standards. |
| The IFRS for SMEs Standard is under consideration |
Organisation
Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU)
Role of the organisation
The ICPAU is the official accountancy standard-setting body in Uganda. The ICPAU is mandated by the Accountants Act, 2013, to:
- regulate and maintain the standards of accountancy in Uganda; and
- prescribe and regulate the conduct of accountants and practising accountants in Uganda.
The ICPAU therefore determines the applicable financial reporting and auditing standards for use in Uganda.
Website
Email contact
Has the jurisdiction made a public commitment in support of moving towards a single set of high quality global accounting standards?
Has the jurisdiction made a public commitment towards IFRS Standards as that single set of high quality global accounting standards?
What is the jurisdiction's status of adoption?
Uganda has already adopted IFRS Standards for all or some companies.
Additional comments provided on the adoption status?
In 1998, the Council of the ICPAU adopted IFRS Standards (then known as IAS Standards) issued by the Board as the national standards of Uganda. The ICPAU Council adoption of IFRS Standards was communicated through publication in a national newspaper and through communication to the various organisations in the country.
IFRS Standards become effective on their respective effective dates as issued by the Board. While the Council maintains the right to make changes to IFRS Standards, to date the ICPAU Council has not made any modifications to IFRS Standards.
If the jurisdiction has NOT made a public statement supporting the move towards a single set of accounting standards and/or towards IFRS Standards as that set of standards, explain the jurisdiction's general position towards the adoption of IFRS Standards in the jurisdiction.
For DOMESTIC companies whose debt or equity securities trade in a public market in the jurisdiction:
Are all or some domestic companies whose securities trade in a public market either required or permitted to use IFRS Standards in their consolidated financial statements?
All domestic companies whose securities trade in a public market are required to use IFRS Standards.
If YES, are IFRS Standards REQUIRED or PERMITTED?
Does that apply to ALL domestic companies whose securities trade in a public market, or only SOME? If some, which ones?
Are IFRS Standards also required or permitted for more than the consolidated financial statements of companies whose securities trade in a public market?
For instance, are IFRS Standards required or permitted in separate company financial statements of companies whose securities trade in a public market?
For instance, are IFRS Standards required or permitted for companies whose securities do not trade in a public market?
Some companies whose securities are not publicly traded are required to use full IFRS Standards. Others are required to use either full IFRS Standards or the IFRS for SMEs Standard. Details may be found in the "Application of the IFRS for SMEs Standard" section of this profile.
If the jurisdiction currently does NOT require or permit the use of IFRS Standards for domestic companies whose securities trade in a public market, are there any plans to permit or require IFRS Standards for such companies in the future?
For FOREIGN companies whose debt or equity securities trade in a public market in the jurisdiction:
Are all or some foreign companies whose securities trade in a public market either REQUIRED or PERMITTED to use IFRS Standards in their consolidated financial statements?
All foreign companies whose securities trade in a public market are required to use IFRS Standards.
If YES, are IFRS Standards REQUIRED or PERMITTED in such cases?
Does that apply to ALL foreign companies whose securities trade in a public market, or only SOME? If some, which ones?
Which IFRS Standards are required or permitted for domestic companies?
IFRS Standards as issued by the Board, ie standards and amendments are adopted/endorsed as and when issued by the Board.
The auditor's report and/or the basis of presentation footnotes states that financial statements have been prepared in conformity with:
Does the auditor's report and/or the basis of preparation footnote allow for ‘dual reporting’ (conformity with both IFRS Standards and the jurisdiction’s GAAP)?
Are IFRS Standards incorporated into law or regulations?
If yes, how does that process work?
The ICPAU is mandated by the Accountants Act, 2013, to regulate and maintain the standards of accountancy in Uganda. The Council of the ICPAU has adopted IFRS Standards.
If no, how do IFRS Standards become a requirement in the jurisdiction?
Does the jurisdiction have a formal process for the 'endorsement' or 'adoption' of new or amended IFRS Standards (including Interpretations) in place?
If yes, what is the process?
If no, how do new or amended IFRS Standards become a requirement in the jurisdiction?
IFRS Standards were adopted at one point in time (1998). Officially, all amendments or new standards and interpretations are automatically applicable as and when they are issued by the Board. However, the Council maintains the right to make modifications to IFRS Standards if needed. To date ICPAU Council has not made any modifications to the IFRS Standards.
Has the jurisdiction eliminated any accounting policy options permitted by IFRS Standards and/or made any modifications to any IFRS Standards?
If yes, what are the changes?
Other comments regarding the use of IFRS Standards in the jurisdiction?
Copies of the IFRS Standards are purchased by the ICPAU from the IFRS Foundation and subsequently made available to the public.
Are IFRS Standards translated into the local language?
No. The English Standards are used.
If they are translated, what is the translation process? In particular, does this process ensure an ongoing translation of the latest updates to IFRS Standards?
Has the jurisdiction adopted the IFRS for SMEs Standard for at least some SMEs?
Uganda has adopted the IFRS for SMEs Standard without any modifications.
If no, is the adoption of the IFRS for SMEs Standard under consideration?
Did the jurisdiction make any modifications to the IFRS for SMEs Standard?
If the jurisdiction has made any modifications, what are those modifications?
Which SMEs use the IFRS for SMEs Standard in the jurisdiction, and are they required or permitted to do so?
The ICPAU has designated certain entities as being publicly accountable. These entities cannot use the IFRS for SMEs Standard. They must use full IFRS Standards. Publicly accountable entities include, but are not limited to:
- entities whose debt or equity instruments are traded in a public market (a domestic or foreign stock exchange or an over-the-counter market, including local and regional markets), or are in the process of issuing such instruments for trading in a public market;
- entities that hold assets in a fiduciary capacity for a broad group of outsiders as one of its primary businesses;
- public organisations that are owned in whole or in part by the State or that are otherwise controlled directly or indirectly by the State; and
- private organisations in which the State has a non-controlling equity interest.
All entities that are not publicly accountable and prepare general purpose financial statements are permitted to apply the IFRS for SMEs Standard.
For those SMEs that are not required to use the IFRS for SMEs Standard, what other accounting framework do they use?
SMEs that do not use the IFRS for SMEs Standard use full IFRS Standards.
Other comments regarding use of the IFRS for SMEs Standard?
General requirements for companies for-profit entities
Public Companies
The Companies Act requires public companies to file audited annual financial statements with the Registrar of Companies within 42 days after the annual general meeting.
Financial Institutions (Commercial Banks)
The Financial Institutions Act requires financial institutions to submit to the Central Bank of Uganda audited annual financial statements approved by their Board of Directors within 3 months after the end of its financial year.
Insurance Companies
The Insurance Act requires insurance companies to prepare and furnish to the Insurance Regulatory Authority their annual audited financial statements within 90 days after the end of their financial year.
Micro Finance Deposit-Taking InstitutionsThe Micro Finance Deposit-Taking Institutions (MDI) Act requires MDIs to submit audited annual financial statements to the Central Bank of Uganda within 4 months after the end of their financial year.
Listed companies
General requirement for companies
Listed companies
What type or format of structured electronic filing is required or permitted?
What is the purpose of the electronic filing?
What documents are required to be filed to the electronic filing system?
Is the financial data provided in XBRL format publicly available?
Is the XBRL reporting system based on the IFRS Taxonomy issued by the IASB?
If no, what are the reasons for not using the IFRS Taxonomy?
Is the IFRS for SMEs filing adopted in the XBRL reporting system?
If no, are there any plans to implement the IFRS for SMEs filing in the future?
How is the XBRL financial statement reporting system set up?
What is (are) the intended purpose(s) of the local base taxonomy?
Which IFRS Taxonomy files are used?
Which part(s) of the IFRS (local) Taxonomy do filer's submissions import/refer to?
Are filers permitted to replace or override any aspects or specified features of the IFRS (local) Taxonomy?
If yes, which aspects and how does this work?
What is the scope or coverage of XBRL filing/tagging?
Are there any plans to extend the coverage of the XBRL filing/tagging in the future?
Which version of the IFRS Taxonomy is being used
If the taxonomy is to be updated to the 2014/2015 version, which of the following module(s) is (are) to be used?
Any guidelines or submission rules for filers?
Do bodies in this jurisdiction use XBRL for purposes other than general purpose financial reports? (For example, taxation authorities, statistical purposes etc.)
Organisation
Role of the organisation
The ICPAU is the official accountancy standard-setting body in Uganda. The ICPAU is mandated by the Accountants Act, 2013, to:
- Regulate and maintain the standard of accountancy in Uganda.
- Prescribe and regulate the conduct of accountants and practising accountants in Uganda.
The ICPAU therefore determines the applicable financial reporting and auditing standards in Uganda.
