INSTITUTE OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE OF UGANDA
Welcome Speech By The CEO At The 3rd Corporate Governance Awards On 18th October 2024 Held At Sheraton Kampala Hotel
The Guest of Honour
The President, ICGU
Members of the Governing Council, ICGU
The Keynote Speaker
Valued Sponsors
Participants
Invited Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to this memorable occasion when the Institute of Corporate Governance of Uganda celebrates its 3rd Corporate Governance Awards.
The Institute of Corporate Governance of Uganda was incorporated in 1998 and commenced operations on 12th October 2000 as a non-for-profit, membership-based organization serving the public, private, and civil society sectors in Uganda with the Vision to have “An enterprise sector that upholds international best practices in Corporate Governance” and a Mission “to promote excellence in Corporate Governance principles and practice in Uganda.”
This therefore implies that this week, we are having a double celebration of ICGU’s 24th anniversary and the 3rd Corporate Governance Awards.
In these 24 years, ICGU has grown by leaps and bounds, and currently, it boasts of having 1,025 individual members and 123 corporate members. Next year, we shall start admitting Student Members to widen our scope of services to embrace the younger generation.
At this juncture, allow me to request my colleagues I serve with at the Secretariat to rise for recognition for the great work they are doing to keep the Institute a resilient and sustainable organization.
On the whole, the Institute is grossly concerned about the current status of corporate governance in Uganda, which has been beset with gross violations of basic corporate governance principles, in all sectors of the economy, namely, public, private, and civil society. These vices, manifested in the form of rampant corruption, have led to a decline in the delivery of essential goods and services to stakeholders in the country.
The Institute believes that exercising good corporate governance builds strong institutions, and strong institutions build strong nations. ICGU recognizes the efforts of the Inspectorate of Governance in championing corporate governance best practices, and we are ready and willing to join you, Madam Guest of Honour, in building and strengthening institutions that will make our nation strong.
Subsequently, by organizing events like this one, ICGU aspires to rally stakeholders in the country, to join in the crusade to turn around the image of the country and reawaken the crucial need for the citizenry to embrace, deepen, and entrench in their institutions as well as their supply chains, the essential tenets of good and sound governance. That is why the Institute passionately advocates for the strengthening of the pillars of good corporate governance which include Accountability, Transparency, Trust, Integrity, Responsibility, and Excellence in their day-to-day operations. These must be crowned with Business Ethical Behaviour by all.
In an attempt to achieve this noble cause, ICGU exercises its responsibilities by conducting training in corporate governance, offering consultancy services, and running public lectures, webinars, and members’ galas. Details about our services may be obtained from our website www.icgu.org.
Finally, ICGU would like to thank our Platinum Partner – Grant Thornton Uganda, together with Gold and Silver sponsors: Deposit Protection Fund, Centenary Bank, NSSF, Diamond Trust Bank, Roofings Group, Post Bank, UAP Old Mutual Insurance, Housing Finance Bank, Concentrix Technologies, Uganda Breweries Ltd, Uganda Civil Aviation Authority and Next Media Services.
I equally thank the Sheraton Kampala Hotel and all other service providers for putting together this event.
Once again, I welcome everyone in their various capacities and say, Sit back; Relax, and: – Feel at ICGU, Feel at Sheraton, and Feel at Home.
Thank you very much
Dison B. Okumu
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER