An intense eight-month succession race at the seat of Uganda’s oil regulator, Petroleum House in Entebbe, is drawing to a close as the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) prepares for a historic leadership handover.
With founding Executive Director Ernest Rubondo’s final non-renewable term expiring at the end of August 2026, the contest to steer Uganda’s oil sector from development into commercial production has narrowed to two industry heavyweights: Mr. Ali Ssekatawa and Mr. Fred Kabanda.
1. The Legal Framework and Selection Timeline
Established under the Petroleum (Exploration, Development and Production) Act, 2013, the PAU is tasked with full regulatory oversight of Uganda’s petroleum value chain—encompassing exploration, development, production, refining, pipeline transit, and storage.
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Statutory Requirement: Under Section 27 of the Act, the Executive Director is appointed by the Minister of Energy upon recommendation by the Board.
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The Board’s Search: Led by Board Chairperson Ms. Lynda Biribonwa, the PAU advertised the position in December.
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The Vetting Process: Candidate shortlisting commenced on January 5, 2026, narrowing an elite pool of internal and external applicants—including Ms. Peninah Aheebwa and Mr. Abdul Bazaara Byakagaba—down to the final two finalists.
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Ministerial Action: Following executive guidance from President Yoweri Museveni, Energy Minister Dr. Monica Musenero formally engaged the PAU Board regarding the appointment of the next regulator chief effective September 1, 2026.
2. Profile & Case: Mr. Fred Kabanda (The Petro-Scientist)
Mr. Fred Kabanda (56), currently serving as Manager for Extractives at the African Development Bank (AfDB), represents the pioneering class of Ugandan geoscientists.
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Background & Education: Geologist with qualifications from Makerere University and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
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Institutional Experience: Joined the Ministry of Energy’s Petroleum Exploration and Production Department (PEPD) in 1993, serving until December 2016.
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Industry Legacy: A central figure during the 2006 exploration milestone at EA31 with Hardman Resources and Tullow Oil, which officially confirmed Uganda’s commercial oil viability. He also contributed to drafting the 2008 National Oil and Gas Policy and the 2012 Upstream Petroleum Legislation.
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The Core Argument: Supporters argue that as production operations begin, the regulator needs a seasoned technical geoscientist with more than three decades of field expertise.
3. Profile & Case: Mr. Ali Ssekatawa (The Legal & Commercial Strategist)
Mr. Ali Ssekatawa (47), currently the Director for Legal and Corporate Affairs at PAU, represents the modern legal and commercial machinery of Uganda’s petroleum governance.
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Background & Education: Holds law and management degrees from Makerere University and the University of Dundee (UK).
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Institutional Experience: Joined Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) in 2005, rising to Head of Litigation and Public Tax Prosecutor until 2017, when he moved to PAU to build its corporate and regulatory architecture.
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Industry Legacy: Key legal mind behind Uganda’s landmark multi-million-dollar international oil tax dispute victories in London and Kampala. He played a central role in negotiating major host agreements, tariffs, and contracts for the $10 billion (Shs 37 trillion) East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), Tilenga, and Kingfisher projects.
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The Core Argument: Proponents maintain that with infrastructure execution underway, PAU requires a strong leader in contract law, compliance enforcement, and cross-border commercial strategy to counter external legal challenges and ensure maximum value retention.
Key Candidate Comparison
| Feature / Metric | Mr. Fred Kabanda | Mr. Ali Ssekatawa |
| Current Role | Manager, Extractives (AfDB) | Director, Legal & Corporate Affairs (PAU) |
| Core Discipline | Petroleum Geosciences & Exploration | Oil & Gas Law, Tax Litigation & Economics |
| Years of Industry Experience | 33 Years | 21+ Years |
| Key Historical Milestone | 2006 Commercial Discovery Exploration | Multi-Million Oil Tax Arbitrations & EACOP Agreements |
| Primary Endorsement Thesis | Technical petro-science grounding for production oversight | Strategic legal, commercial, and regulatory enforcement |
Steering Uganda Into First Oil
The incoming Executive Director inherits an organization at a defining turning point. Outgoing boss Ernest Rubondo leaves behind a robust regulatory footprint spanning 10 years, overseeing over 60 terabytes of national data and billions in local content retention.
With the first commercial barrels of Ugandan crude oil approaching the export pipeline, the next leader at Petroleum House will carry the mandate of delivering operational discipline, environmental compliance, and sustainable wealth generation for the country.
