Dear Reader,
ACFE, Uganda Chapter 2027 strategy is built around three pillars:
- Proactive membership engagement and management – to leverage the power of together as one.
- Strong partnerships with the private sector and government, CFE brand visibility through events, training and publishing to optimize the power of strategic partnerships.
- Sustainable operations (ESG) and good chapter management through transparent reporting, to leverage the power of purpose.
Each of the above pillars has clearly stated targets aligned to the balanced scorecard. We will prioritize the use of technology, member mobilization and social networks to promote the CFE to make it the qualification of choice for fraud and corruption risk management in Uganda, as we fight fraud together.
The chapter requires an annual budget of Ugx. 120m to achieve the medium-term target of 300 full CFEs and 500 Associate members, 50 corporate members and a total of 400 members in good standing with the ACFE Uganda local chapter by July 2023. With your support this is possible. The chapter will raise Ugx.
With a total of 180 members, of which 85 are full CFEs in good standing, the ACFE, Uganda Chapter is making progress. The 2022 Fraud Awareness week which runs from 13th to 19th Nov 2022, allows us to create awareness, create brand visibility, and traction and attract new members.
The chapter held its first meet-and-greet meeting on October 7, 2022, which was a great success. As a result of the meeting, the Chapter has recruited a full-time Chapter Manager, who is expected to report to work on January 9th January 2023. One of the urgent priorities of the Chapter is mobilizing resources for an independent Chapter office. We request each one of you to make good your annual dues of Ugx. 200,000 per year, revised effective 2023. The chapter shall raise Ugx. 36m, if all 180 current members paid their dues.
I encourage each one of you to get involved in the ACFE, Uganda Chapter. Every member is free to ask for accountability from the Chapter admin, and all books are open to membership for review.
As the fraud problem increase, we are getting a lot of interest in CFEs and investigations.
However, the Chapter does not intend to compete with its members in the provision of professional services but will act as a single point of reference and recommendations for members in good standing. Your membership with the ACFE, Uganda Chapter will allow the Chapter to refer you or your firm for investigation and fraud management opportunities, including being one of the authorized anti-fraud trainers.
The role of the ACFE, Uganda Chapter is fourfold, as defined in the Chapter bylaws:
1) Serve the Community
“Local chapters should develop a program to serve the community. The chapter should provide speakers for community organizations and provide articles and press releases on fraud-related topics. Contact your members and ask them what topics they would be willing to speak about. Keep the information on file and use it when other community organizations ask for assistance. Local chapters may also donate money or services to charities or community services within their particular catchment area.”
To this end, the ACFE, Uganda Chapter shall keep a list of members in good standing. Only paid and active members shall be recommended. We shall write to all government institutions and publish annually the list of CFEs in good standing to promote the champions of the anti-fraud profession. As fraud risk increases in Uganda, providing a source of expertise and authority is key to improving the quality of fraud risk management services including investigations.
The list of members in good standing shall be maintained at www.acfeuganda.com; and available to the public. Members in good standing, but not interested to be listed, shall not be included in the public list. By default, all members in good standing shall be listed unless otherwise stated in writing.
2) Promote Member Interaction
“During chapter training sessions, meetings and seminars, time should be allotted
specifically to promote member interaction. A key membership benefit is networking opportunities. Give your members time to mix and socialize before and after the meeting. This social time can be mutually beneficial – one member’s experience can provide the answer to another’s problem. Social interaction can also promote an exchange of ideas among members with different backgrounds and professions.”
The fraud awareness week, of 2022 provides an opportunity to showcase the skills of our members and the chapter resources. We encourage members to make time and participate in the planned events. As anti-fraud champions, make time to interest your company to participate in the fraud awareness week as a sponsor or dedicate time for the Chapter to speak to your staff. This will help improve your profile and promote your career.
3) Maintain a Membership Directory
“A membership directory can be kept to provide networking information to members. This tool makes member contact information readily available for chapter members looking to connect with someone in a particular field. The best time to publish a chapter directory is right after your chapter has had an active membership drive to attract new members. It often helps in getting members to renew their membership if they are aware their name and business will be published within the chapter directory.”
We shall keep better records and be transparent in our reporting. We plan to make the ACFE, Uganda Chapter, the most dynamic in the world. We shall keep an up-to-date membership directory. And promote the value of membership to employers and prospective employers.
4) Contribute to the Common Body of Knowledge (CBOK)
“Since its formation, the ACFE has developed and presented the basic training for
Certified Fraud Examiners through its conferences and seminars. Basic fraud training consists of the common body of knowledge (CBOK) in fraud examination, which is contained primarily in the Fraud Examiners Manual. The CBOK is divided into four fields:
- Fraud investigations
- Legal elements of fraud
- Fraud prevention and detection
- Financial transactions and fraud schemes
Knowledge of this same material is required for the CFE Exam. Chapters are strongly encouraged to provide training covering CBOK topics.”
We shall continue to support and encourage ACFE, Uganda Chapter to write books, case studies and articles about their experiences and fraud cases. We shall position ourselves as the best source of fraud and corruption risk management entity.
Ends.
Mustapha B Mugisa,
President, ACFE, Uganda Chapter
