Safeguarding mental health of young auditors in Uganda’s accounting firms

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OPINION

By Suzan Hamujuni Kangyenyenka

In Uganda, as in much of the world, the Big Four accounting firms command immense respect.

They are seen as gateways to successful careers, offering young graduates the prestige and exposure that few other employers can match. Yet behind the polished image lies a growing concern, the mental health of the very young auditors who sustain these firms.

For many fresh graduates, the excitement of joining a Big Four firm quickly collides with reality.

Long hours, demanding deadlines, and the intense pressure of “busy season” often become the norm. What is presented as professional training or a necessary rite of passage can instead result in burnout, anxiety, and early disillusionment.

The Ugandan context adds its own challenges of unemployment; hence, many young professionals feel compelled to endure for fear of losing the opportunity.

Speaking up about mental health struggles remains difficult in a society where stigma persists, and where seeking support is often equated with weakness.

The consequence is a silent workforce of young auditors bearing immense pressure, with little space to breathe or recover.

This is more than a personal issue; it is an institutional responsibility. The Big Four firms in Uganda have both the resources and the moral duty to protect their young staff.

Workload expectations can be rebalanced, mental health support structures introduced, and firm cultures reshaped to value well-being as much as technical output. These changes would not only improve lives but also reduce the high turnover that undermines long-term talent development.

Auditing depends on precision, ethical judgment, and clear thinking. Such qualities cannot be nurtured in an environment that exhausts its people.

Protecting the mental health of young auditors is, therefore, not simply about kindness; it is a business imperative for the sustainability of the profession in Uganda.

The Big Four firms reserve the right to choose to invest in the resilience of their youngest professionals; they can demonstrate leadership not only in financial integrity but also in human dignity.

The writer is a student of Master of Business Administration - Strategy and Communication option, Makerere University Business School