The search for East Africa's most outstanding finance leaders is on as nominations open for the 2026 CFO Awards for East Africa.
Following the resounding success of the inaugural CFO Awards, which saw Safaricom group CFO Dilip Pal named East Africa's CFO of the Year, nominations are now open for the 2026 edition.
The awards celebrate finance leaders from listed companies, large corporations, state-owned entities and government institutions across the region.
Set to take place on 26 November 2026 in Nairobi, this prestigious event, dubbed ‘the Oscars of Finance’, will bring together the region's top CFOs, business leaders and partners for an elegant gala dinner that will see East Africa’s top finance leaders feted.
The awards recognise exceptional financial leadership, innovation and strategic acumen, celebrating individuals who have driven meaningful impact within their organisations and the broader business landscape.
How to nominate
To submit a nomination, visit the CFO Awards website and complete the online nomination form. The process takes just minutes to complete, and anyone can nominate a deserving candidate. Nominations close on 28 February 2026.
After the nomination period closes, shortlisted candidates will undergo a comprehensive interview and evaluation process. The winners will be revealed at the gala dinner on 26 November 2026 in Nairobi.
Award categories
A distinguished panel of expert judges will assess nominees across the following categories:
- CFO of the Year, East Africa
- CFO of the Year, Kenya
- CFO of the Year, Tanzania
- CFO of the Year, Rwanda
- CFO of the Year, Uganda
- Young CFO of the Year
- Public Impact CFO of the Year
- Strategy Execution Award
- Finance Transformation Award
- Compliance & Governance Award
- High-Performance Team Award
- Finance & ESG Award
- Finance & Technology Award
- Beyond Finance Award
The judging panel
The 2026 panel of judges comprises accomplished finance and business leaders representing diverse industries. Many are former CFOs themselves, bringing deep expertise and valuable perspectives to the assessment process.
The 2026 judges are:
- Andrew Ssekamwa, strategic finance executive
- Carol Musyoka, chief provocateur, CMCL
- Daniel Ngumy, managing partner, ALN Kenya
- George Odenyo, CEO, American Tower Corporation
- Hanif Jaffer, founder and director, Exim Bank Tanzania & Uganda
- Dr James McFie, senior lecturer, Strathmore University Business School
- John Bugunya, vice president, ICPAR
- Josephine Ossiya, CEO, Capital Markets Authority of Uganda
- Julian Ingabire, strategy director, ICPAR
- Leonard Mususa, chairperson, Tanzania Breweries
- Mkombozi Karake, chairperson, KMD Rwanda
- Nelson Rwihula, MD, Newtan Insurance
- Prof. Samuel Sejjaaka, principal, MAT ABACUS Business School
The 2025 awards, held at the Emara Ole Sereni in Nairobi, brought together the region's finance leaders for an unforgettable evening of celebration and fine cuisine. The event honoured outstanding leaders across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda, with winners including MTN Uganda CFO Andrew Bugembe, Kioo financial controller Dipen Patel, AzamPay group CFO Bilaal Ramjaun and former Ecobank Rwanda CFO Titus Langat, among others.
To partner with the CFO Awards or reserve a table at the gala dinner, contact CFO East Africa partnerships manager Humbu Karugo at hkarugo@exco.org and be part of the region's biggest celebration of finance leadership.
