UGANDA’S OIL & GAS INDUSTRY COMES OF AGE: Meet the 100 oil and gas leaders driving the race to first oil From the time Uganda struck oil in the Albertine Graben in 2006⏤ the Mputa-1 well was drilled in December 2005 and on 6th January 2006, it struck oil and was declared the first commercial discovery in Uganda⏤ and subsequently reached the Final Investment Decision (FID) on February 1, 2022, the country has undergone a rather painful slow process of learning, unlearning and relearning. But even with the FID, Uganda still has several hurdles to jump such as the global campaign to sabotage especially financing of the project - but regardless, the country together with its two key partners, TotalEnergies E&P and CNOOC, the country is determined to finally brings its oil out of the ground.

Since reaching FID in February 2022, Uganda has kicked off a massive oil drilling campaign with four oil rigs⏤ three of them at the TotalEnergies-operated USD4-5 billionTilenga Project in Buliisa and Nwoya districts, and one rig at the CNOOC-run USD2-3 billionKingfisher Project in Kikuube in the Albertine Graben. As of June 2024, TotalEnergies had made considerable progress in drilling over 35 oil wells with a projection of drilling 98 wells by the end of 2024. Seven oil wells had so far been drilled at the KingFisher Project alongside other engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) works. 

Construction works for the USD5 billion East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) have also commenced and are at various stages in Uganda and Tanzania. A thermal insulation plant was commissioned in March 2024 in Tanzania and civil works for pump stations, the main camp and pipe yards are all on course both in Uganda and Tanzania.  In March 2024 the government of China, through Ambassador Xue Bing, the Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa and the Chinese Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Zhang Lizhong, assured President Museveni that Chinese lenders were open and willing to discuss financing for the East African Crude Oil Pipeline Project (EACOP). The duo also assured the Ugandan president of Chinese President H.E Xi Jinping’s unwavering support for the East African Crude Oil Pipeline Project (EACOP).

On the refinery front, Uganda remains committed to a 60,000 barrels per day refinery and as of June 2024 pre-FID activities such as FEED and ESIA had been completed and Uganda is advancing negotiations with the United Arab Emirates-based Alpha MBM Investments LLC. 

The USD 4 29.57 km2 Kabaale Industrial Park that will host, among others, the Kabalega International Airport is also on course.

Since FID, investments of $1.85 billion in 2022 and $1.9 billion in 2023 were made and this would be ramped up to USD3.19 billion this 2024. The intensity of these activities has continued to increase and is expected to peak this year 2024 and maintain this peak for the next two years with a working deadline of 2025 to produce oil.   

Of the USD7.14 billion approved for investment in these 3 years,  USD1.914 billion (36%) is committed to Ugandan companies, which is much closer to the 40% national content target for this phase, creating some 13,821 jobs for Ugandans- an equivalent of 93%.

Energised by these developments, fresh exploration activities are also on course. Petroleum Exploration Licences over the Ngassa Shallow Play and Ngassa Deep Play Contract Areas (CAs) are being operated by Oranto Petroleum Limited (OPL) who are now planning to drill the first exploration well. Armour Energy Uganda Limited has completed preliminary surveys over the Kanywataba Contract Area and plans to drill an exploration well is on course. DGR Global Limited of Australia was awarded an exploration license over the Turaco area (635 sq. km) while the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) was granted an exploration licence over the Kasuruban area (1285 sq. km) on 2nd February 2023 and has two years to conclude preparatory surveys and drill a new well in the following two years.

Amidst all this intensive progress and action there has been significant creation of skill and talent built over time. CEO East Africa Magazine this week shines a light on 100 oil and gas leaders and executives spearheading this action across government,  the private sector, as well as civil society.

GOVERNMENT & REGULATORS

1. Hon. Dr. Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu

Cabinet Minister

Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development

Dr. Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu wields influence in the oil and gas sector as Uganda’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, a position she has held since June 2021.

She holds a Master’s of Arts Degree in Conflict Studies, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Fine Art, both from Makerere University.

She has been at the forefront of influencing a number of cabinet decisions on oil and gas matters borrowing from her long leadership experience as a Minister of State in the Ministries of Agriculture, Finance, Defence, and Office of the Prime Minister, and a Government Chief Whip.

She’s a passionate and result-oriented political leader and is credited for steering forward the signing of the long-awaited Final Investment Decision for Uganda’s oil and gas projects which has now put Uganda on the road to first Oil in 2025.

In December, Nankabirwa led top Ugandan energy officials to unveil an ambitious energy transition plan at COP28 in Dubai designed to reduce carbon emissions and contribute to renewable energy production.

Nankabirwa has also spearheaded the signing of key production-sharing agreements for the second licensing round that seeks to explore more oil resources in the Albertine Graben. On several occasions, she has met high-level delegation teams from banks and embassies to discuss matters concerning the financing of the mining and oil industry.

In 2023, she was actively engaged in thwarting efforts of climate activists bent on de-campaigning the construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).

In many of her speeches, she has emphasised that developing nations like Uganda can develop their oil resources and attain the same benefits enjoyed by long-established producers.

2. Hon. Phiona Nyamutoro

Minister of State

Ministry of Minerals, Ministry of Energy and Minerals Development  

Nyamutoro is a Ugandan politician and legislator representing the Youth in the parliament of Uganda. 

She was appointed Minister of State for Minerals in the Ministry of Energy and Minerals Development on 22 March 2024.

The oil and gas docket directly falls under her mandate and as such key regulatory bodies such as the Petroleum Authority of Uganda and the Directorate of Petroleum, are all under her office.  

Nyamutoro holds a first-class degree in Arts (Luganda, Sociology) and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Makerere University.

3. Ms Irene Pauline Batebe

Permanent Secretary

Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development

Ms. Irene Batebe is a chemical/ process engineer and possesses a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical and Process Engineering from the University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), a Master’s in Advanced Chemical Engineering majoring in Refinery Design and Operations from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom and a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering specializing in Sustainable Energy Engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology – KTH, Sweden.

Having worked at the energy ministry for fifteen (15) years in the areas of Energy and Petroleum, Batebe remains a crucial asset with her vast experience in leading negotiations for key oil agreements, and sourcing for the financing of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) and Oil Refinery.

Her position gives her a vantage point as the overall technical overseer in the management of the multi-billion dollar oil projects of Tilenga, KingFisher and EACOP. Some of her responsibilities at the ministry include the certification that all the equipment and machinery imported into Uganda to construct the refinery and the East African Crude Oil Pipeline meet international standards and are of the right quality and specification.

She has also been a key panellist and speaker at various oil and gas summits in Uganda, and across the world such as the African Energy Week in Cape Town, South Africa. 

In the boardroom arena, Bateebe is a former member of the inaugural Board of Directors of the Uganda National Oil Company Limited (UNOC), where she served for two terms and also chaired the Board of Directors of the Uganda Refinery Holding Company Limited, a subsidiary of UNOC.  

4. Ernest Rubondo

Executive Director

Petroleum Authority of Uganda

Ernest N.T. Rubondo is the Executive Director and Secretary to the Board at the Petroleum Authority of Uganda⏤ the regulator of the oil and gas sector.

He completed a Master of Science in Petroleum Reservoir Geology at the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine in London in 1990 and worked briefly with Scott Pickford Plc in the United Kingdom. He returned to Uganda to participate in field geological and geophysical data acquisition as part of the petroleum exploration efforts in the country.

Rubondo worked with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development for over 30 years and was Commissioner for the Petroleum Exploration and Production Department (PEPD) between 2008 and 2014 and Director for Petroleum between 2015 and 2016.

Rubondo is also a member of the Uganda Government team that promotes the country’s petroleum potential to the wider world with a view of attracting investment in the sector and has been a key negotiator of production-sharing agreements with oil companies for acreage in Uganda’s Albertine Graben.

He chaired the working group which coordinated the formulation of a draft National Oil and Gas Policy for Uganda which was approved in 2008 and he was a key participant in the formulation of Uganda’s new petroleum laws which were passed in 2013.

5. Dr. Fred Kabagambe–Kaliisa

Senior Presidential Advisor on Oil and Gas 

Dr. Kabagambe-Kaliisa is not only an immediate former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD), he is also a Senior Presidential Advisor on Oil and Gas and served as a board chairperson of the Uganda Society of Petroleum Engineers. 

As a permanent secretary, Dr. Kabagambe-Kaliisa was a member of the team that issued the Tilenga project developers’ production licences. 

Further, alongside his Energy Ministry colleagues, he worked tirelessly to ensure that the Ministry meets one of its key goals, which is to ensure that Uganda exploits its oil and gas resources. 

Dr. Kabagambe has therefore been active in the formulation of key energy, oil & gas, and mineral sector policies, legislation and investment programs; and negotiations of agreements and contracts, all of which have helped to create a conducive environment for investment in Uganda’s energy, oil and gas, and mineral sectors.

As a Senior Presidential Advisor on Oil and Gas, Dr. Kabagambe’s current work involves the promotion of oil and gas activities. 

A native of the oil-rich Bunyoro region, he remains a key influential figure in the business circles. He owns Miika Eco Resort Hotel in Hoima District which offers hospitality services in the oil sector, and he is also a supplier of Albertine Water products at oil-related events. 

Dr. Fred Kabagambe–Kaliisa obtained his Bachelor of Science (Hons) Degree in Geology and Chemistry from Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda in 1976; a post-graduate Diploma in Mineral Exploration from the University of Mining and Metallurgy in Leoben, Austria in 1980; a Master of Science Degree in Petroleum Geology from the University of Aberdeen in the United Kingdom in 1987; Studied Management and Economics at Duke University, USA in 1992 and is a  Certified Regulation Specialist of the Institute of Public Private Partnership ( USA)and Loughborough University(UK).

The United Graduate College and Seminary International of Tennessee, USA awarded Dr. Kabagambe-Kaliisa The Honorary Degree of Doctorate of Philosophy in Humanities in November 2014. 

6. Frank Mugisha

Ag. Commissioner

Petroleum Exploration Development and Production Department (PEDPD) – Ministry of Energy

Mr Mugisha has worked in the Petroleum Sector, through different ranks, for about 31 years. 

He was a core member of the working group that formulated the National Oil and Gas Policy (NOGP) for Uganda which was approved in 2008 and attendant laws and regulations which were subsequently formulated to operationalize the National Policy.  

He was the Manager for the oil and gas first Licensing Round and steered it to a successful conclusion by granting three exploration licenses in 2017 and also steered the 2nd licensing round which resulted in granting an exploration license to Uganda National Oil Company and DGR Global of Australia.

Mugisha is also an instrumental coordinator of several strategic programs such as petroleum resource assessment, data acquisition in frontier basins for opening up to detailed petroleum activities and formulation of the new and comprehensive National Petroleum Policy.

He is also the Programme Manager for Phase-III Oil for Development, a Norwegian-supported five-year project and two-year no-cost extension that started in 2018.

He holds a Master’s in Exploration Geophysics from Leeds University 1994, a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Geophysics from Leeds University 1993, a Diploma in Petroleum Operations and Development from Norway 1997, a Diploma in Management of Extractive Industries- Petroleum and Minerals 2010 and several certificates in oil and gas discipline.

He is a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) and the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG).

7. Honey Malinga

Commissioner, Petroleum Exploration, Development and Production Department (Upstream)

Ministry of Energy and Minerals Development

Malinga has served for 8 years as Commissioner of the Petroleum Exploration, Development and Production Department (Upstream) at Uganda’s Ministry of Energy & Minerals Development.

He was promoted to the position in November 2016. 

He’s responsible for promoting, licensing and initiating policies and legislations for the Upstream segment of the petroleum value chain.

Between August 2017 to June 2023, in addition to being a Commissioner, he also held the duties of the Director for the Directorate of Petroleum.

Malinga joined the Petroleum Exploration and Production Department in September 1992 as a Geophysicist and in September 1997 made Acting Senior Geophysicist.  In July 1999,  he was promoted to Principal Geophysicist and later Assistant Commissioner in May 2004.  

He was awarded a Certificate of Special Recognition for his contribution towards the discovery of oil in Uganda by President Museveni in 2006.

Malinga holds a Bachelor of Science Degree (BSc.) majoring in Physics from Makerere University (1989).  Master of Science in Exploration Geophysics from the University of London (1994) and Diploma of Imperial College (DIC) in Exploration Geophysics from Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine (1994).

He also holds various Diplomas in Petroleum Operations and Management, Petroleum Economics, Petroleum Contracts and Negotiations; and Certificates in Petroleum related fields.

8. Lynda Biribonwa

Board Chairperson

Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU)

Ms Biribonwa is a certified Lead Environmental Management Systems Auditor with over 23 years of experience in environment, health, and safety at strategic, policy, compliance, and practitioner levels.

She holds an MBA in Oil and Gas from CWS School of Energy, London, UK; a Master’s in Environment and Development from the University of Reading, UK; and a Bachelor’s (Hons) in Environmental Management and Business Administration from Keele University, Staffordshire, UK.

Before her appointment, to chair the UNOC Board, Ms Biribonwa served on the previous Board as the head of the Governance, Board, and Audit Committee which develops and recommends policies and procedures to ensure sound governance practices are in place and guides the Board in fulfilling its oversight role. 

Ms Biribonwa brings experience in environmental engineering and finance to the Board. She holds an MBA in Oil and Gas from CWS School of Energy, London UK, an MSc in Environment and Development from the University of Reading, UK and a BA (Hons) in Environmental Management and Business Administration from Keele University, Staffordshire, UK.

9. Bernard Ongodia

Principal

Uganda Petroleum Institute- Kigumba

Ongodia is a Board Member Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) and the current Principal of Uganda Petroleum Institute, Kigumba (UPIK). He is also the Chairperson of the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Uganda (OGTAU).

He was appointed the Principal of the Petroleum Institute in March 2017 bringing a vast experience from the Petroleum Exploration, Development and Production Department (PEDPD) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD).

Mr Ongodia has steered the Petroleum Institute to become a world-class training centre in the last seven years achieving an international vocational qualifications status.

To keep abreast with current industry developments, he has initiated partnerships with major oil companies and contractors to provide internship and job opportunities for students as well as knowledge transfer to UPIK staff.  

The Institute in partnership with Total Energies is currently engaged in training up to 150 talented Ugandans who will later be recruited to participate in the Tilenga Project production startup phase.

Ongodia holds a Bachelor of Science Degree majoring in Physics from Makerere University, Kampala (1996), a Master of Science Degree in Exploration Geophysics from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom (2005) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA), Oil and Gas Management from Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, United Kingdom (2015).

He is also a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) and the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG).

10. Dr. Joseph Kobusheshe

Director of Environment, Health and Safety

Petroleum Authority of Uganda

Dr. Kobusheshe is a Civil and Environmental Engineer with over two decades of experience in the environment, health and safety aspects of Uganda’s mining and oil and gas sectors.

He has vast experience in the development and regulation of Environmental, Health and Safety Policies, Legislation, Standards, Programs and Plans in the extractives industry, and is responsible for overseeing the Authority’s roles of ensuring that oil and gas activities are safely undertaken and do not cause adverse impacts on the environment and host communities.

Dr. Kobusheshe has been instrumental in the development and implementation of policy, legislation, strategies, and plans for ensuring prudent management of health, safety and environmental aspects of Uganda’s oil and gas sector. As the energy transition question gathers steam across the globe, Dr. Kobusheshe faces the herculean task of overseeing that Uganda’s oil projects adhere to international environmental standards.

He has also authored a number of guiding articles, in which he has defended the environmental friendliness of the planned Tilenga, Kingfisher and EACOP projects. He was part of the Uganda delegation at COP28 in Dubai where he presented the Decarbonisation Plan aimed at reducing the carbon footprint in Uganda’s oil and gas projects.

Dr. Joseph Kobusheshe kicked off his career as a civil and environmental engineer in early 2000 as a graduate engineer and worked as a project engineer on several infrastructure projects and as a town Engineer before joining the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development in 2004.

Prior to his current appointment, he was head of the Health, Safety and Environment Unit at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development. 

He holds a PhD in Environmental Engineering and a Master’s in Environmental and Resource Engineering from the University of Nottingham, UK. He is a member of the Society of Environmental Engineers, UK.

11. Peninah Aheebwa

Director of Economic, and National Content Monitoring

Petroleum Authority of Uganda

Ms. Aheebwa is responsible for ensuring cost-efficient oil and gas operations in the country, the economic feasibility of the projects and promoting the participation of Ugandans in the sector.

Ms. Aheebwa has experience in the economics, commercial and policy aspects of Uganda’s oil and gas sector. She has contributed to the negotiation of the production licenses, Production Sharing Agreements, the commercialization plans for the country’s oil and gas resources and the formulation of the country’s legal and regulatory framework.

She holds a Master of Science degree in Energy Studies specialising in Oil and Gas Economics from the University of Dundee, UK.

Before joining the Authority, she worked with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development in different capacities from 2002 to 2017, rising through the ranks to become a Principal Petroleum Officer in 2015. 

She has vast experience in the areas of economics, commercial aspects, policy and planning for the oil and gas sector.

12. Ali Ssekatawa

Director Legal and Corporate Affairs

Petroleum Authority of Uganda

Mr Ali Ssekatawa was appointed the Director for Legal and Corporate Affairs at the Petroleum Authority of Uganda in 2017.

He has since amassed years of experience, specializing in tax and oil and gas law.

Before the Petroleum Authority, he served with the Uganda Revenue Authority from 2005, rose through the ranks, was appointed Head of the Litigation portfolio and was a public tax prosecutor from 2011 to 2017.

He has litigated and won groundbreaking cases in Uganda and other International Tribunals such as the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

Mr Ssekatawa has also published several thought leadership articles in support of Uganda’s oil projects and has also featured as a key panellist at several oil and gas summits.

He’s a firm believer in just energy transition which should favour least developed countries, especially in Africa based on key considerations of national circumstances.

Ssekatawa is an ardent digital native on Elon Musk’s X platform where he has faced off with de-campaigners of the EACOP project.

He also believes oil and gas should transform communities from building hospitals and schools to providing clean water and road infrastructure; efforts which go beyond corporate responsibility.

13. Tom Ayebare Rukundo 

Manager Economic and Financial Analysis

Petroleum Authority of Uganda

Rukundo is the Manager of Economic and Financial Analysis at the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) and a rising star where he leads the oversight of the economic and financial aspects of Uganda’s Oil and Gas sector in addition to harnessing linkages between the Oil and Gas sector and other sectors of the Economy for broad-based economic growth.

He was deeply involved in the negotiations that facilitated the Final Investment Decision and secured the government’s take from the projects in addition to spearheading and sourcing close to a billion shillings from the private sector to fund research on linkages and opportunities for other sectors of the economy from the Oil and Gas sector.

He is a seasoned practitioner with experience in cost, financial and economic aspects of Uganda’s Petroleum and Infrastructure Development sectors executed in Uganda, France, and the U.K.

He holds a Master of Science in Oil and Gas Economics from the University of Dundee obtained with Distinction and a BSc in Quantity Surveying from Makerere University where he graduated with Honors on the Dean’s list.

14. Alex Nyombi

Director of Development and Production

Petroleum Authority of Uganda

Mr. Nyombi has over nineteen years of experience in the oil and gas industry with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development.

He’s a member of the Ugandan team that acquired technical data in the Albertine Graben and promoted the country’s oil and gas potential to industry to attract investment.

Nyombi participated in the drafting and putting in place the new legislation for the oil and gas sector in Uganda and chaired the team that put in place the new model Production Sharing Agreement and other related agreements for the country.

He was the License Manager for the Kingfisher Development Area, the first production license issued in Uganda, and has been involved in monitoring and regulating oil company operations.

Nyombi has overseen the major industry farm-out/transactions in Uganda. He received a special Presidential award for his contribution to the discovery of petroleum in Uganda.

Mr. Nyombi, a Reservoir Geophysicist, holds a Master of Science degree in Petroleum Geophysics from the University of Leeds, and a Master of Laws degree in Petroleum Law and Policy from the University of Dundee in the United Kingdom.

15. Irumba Clovice Bright

Director for Exploration

Petroleum Authority of Uganda

Mr Irumba Clovice Bright is a Petroleum Geoscientist with specialized training and practical knowledge in Petroleum Law and Policy with 20 years of working experience in the oil and gas industry, a career that started at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development of Uganda.

He has researched the evolution of the legal framework governing the oil and gas industry in Uganda which has made him develop unique skills not only in legal drafting but also development analysis of petroleum policy and strategy.

Mr. Irumba was involved in field studies in the Albertine Graben to establish the petroleum potential of Uganda and subsequently participated in the promotion of investment in petroleum exploration in the country.

He further participated in the development of policy and legislation and took leadership in the formulation of the current petroleum regulations governing the oil and gas industry in Uganda.

Mr Irumba holds a Master of Laws in Petroleum Law and Policy with Distinction from the University of Dundee (UK) and a Master of Science in Petroleum Geoscience from the University of New Castle upon Tyne (UK).

In addition, he holds a Diploma in Petroleum Development and Operations from Stavanger, Norway and various certificates in Petroleum Geoscience, Law, and Economics from reputable institutions in the UK, USA, Norway and China.

16. Adrian Bukenya

Board Member

Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU)

Mr. Adrian Bukenya has over twenty years of global professional experience in the energy,  infrastructure and financial services sectors. Sixteen of these were spent in operations across Africa in senior leadership roles. Adrian has a wide range of experience including business development, government relations, regulatory affairs, organizational transformation, stakeholder engagement and people growth and development. Adrian is a motivated self-starter and is keen on developing business strategies through effective leadership to deliver sustainable value for all stakeholders.

Most recently, he was appointed as the Country Director for the Mastercard Foundation in Uganda. Before this, he served as Uganda Country Manager for Baker Hughes providing advisory to the Baker Hughes & GE Businesses concerning the legal and regulatory frameworks. He has also held leadership roles in Tullow Uganda, Shell Uganda and the Black and Decker Corporation.

Adrian is extremely passionate about success and leading others, especially the youth, to attain their highest potential. Adrian has an MBA in Finance & Economics from Oxford University. 

17. Innocent Kihika

Board Member

Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU)

Mr. Innocent Kihika is a Partner at Shonubi Musoke & Co Advocates. He is one of the most respected lawyers in oil and gas. 

He obtained a Bachelor of Laws from Makerere University, Uganda, a Diploma in Legal Practice from Law Development Centre, Uganda and a Post Graduate Diploma in Telecommunication and Information Technology Law- University of Strathclyde- Scotland. He has received training from the Institute for Public-Private Partnerships (IP3).
He is a member of the International Bar Association, the East Africa Law Society, and the Uganda Law Society. He specializes in energy, mining, and infrastructure law. His experience includes advising on several Power Purchase Agreement negotiations between independent power producers and the government of Uganda / UETCL, many electricity generation projects, as well as transmission line projects and different aspects of Right of Way.

He has also worked on several mining transactions within the country and is well-versed in the regulatory and licensing architecture of the energy sector in Uganda.

He previously worked in the energy sector as the Head of Legal and Manager, Corporate Services of the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company (UETCL) for seven years. 

He is presently recognised by the IFLR1000⏤ the guide to the world’s leading financial law firms⏤ as one of the country’s leading authorities on matters of energy, technology and communications, oil and gas, as well as social infrastructure and Chambers Global where he is described as, “the go-to guy for energy law in his firm”.

OIL COMPANIES

18. Philippe Grouiex

General Manager

Total Energies EP Uganda

Philippe Groueix is a seasoned and highly skilled oil and gas professional with three decades of experience within Total Energies. 

He is currently the General Manager of Total Energies EP Uganda and Country Chair of Total Energies in Uganda. His assignment in Uganda began 1st of September 2021, with the responsibility to bring the Tilenga Oil Project to its first oil in 2025.

Phillipe continues to spearhead the significant progress in drilling over 426 oil wells and developing the Industrial Area, which will host a Central Processing Facility (CPF) capable of handling 190,000 barrels. 

Drilling began in June 2023 and is progressing in various fields, with 25 wells drilled utilizing three ZPEB-operated rigs.

Phillipe, through his leadership, has achieved other key milestones on the Tilenga Project such as hitting over 20 million man-hours without Lost Time Incidents (LTI). This significant industry milestone was achieved on August 10, 2023, exactly 226 days after the 10 million man-hour mark that was realized in January 2023.

With safety at the core of its operations, Total Energies EP Uganda has relentlessly established and maintained a safety culture among its over 8,000 employees and contractors aimed at reinforcing continuous vigilance of all the risks and mitigations in all the Company’s operations.

He has also successfully spearheaded the handover of 105 resettlement houses and titles to people whose primary residence was impacted during the identification of land for the construction of the Tilenga Project facilities and associated infrastructure in Buliisa and Nwoya District.

Before his assignment to Uganda, Phillipe was the Managing Director of Total Energies EP Denmark, a large operating affiliate in the North Sea with an ongoing USD 3 Billion major redevelopment project of Tyra field.

From December 2017 to March 2020, he was the Managing Director of Total Energies EP Bolivia and later Executive Vice President of Total Energies EP Indonesia from November 2013 to December 2017.

Phillipe has a strong operational background in field operations, projects and operations in Africa, Asia and South America with immense experience in managing large multi-discipline and multi-cultural teams in diverse environments.

Phillipe joined Total Energies in 1990 and pursued an operational career up to the level of Technical Director at Total Energies EP Gabon from September 2010 to November 2013. From 1990 to 2004, he held various positions in Field Operation Management at the company headquarters and in affiliates such as Nigeria and Gabon. In 2004, he embarked on a new career path as Senior Petroleum Architect Heavy Oil and later became Head of Development Studies for America until 2008 and subsequently for Africa until 2010.

Among his many achievements, Phillipe is recognised for having successfully and safely managed large development projects associated with complex operations including his recent assignments (Gabon, Indonesia, Bolivia and Denmark).

Phillipe holds a Master of Science Degree in Electronics from ENSEEIHT- Higher Education Institute (France).

19. Liu Xiangdong

President

CNOOC Uganda Limited

Xiangdong Liu- President, China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) Uganda

Liu’s career experience spans almost two decades in oil and gas international business across the major continents of South America, North America, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa.

Before assuming the role of President of CNOOC Uganda, Liu served as Vice President of CNOOC International from 2018 to 2023. Besides being President, he has had an additional role as Head of the Business Development & Strategic Planning Department in Beijing since 2015.

Between 2010 to 2015, Liu also worked as Head of the East Hemisphere Asset Management Department in China, and later as Head of Development and Production Department in Uganda.

In that role, he was actively involved in the Field Development Plans (FDP) for the Kingfisher Development Area in Kikuube District in the Albertine Graben in Western Uganda, and he’s still the overseer for the production of over 31 oil wells with ongoing drilling. 

The KingFisher Area central processing facility also features a 40,000-barrel processing capacity plant, and feeder pipelines that will connect the main East African Crude Oil Pipeline at Kabaale in Hoima District.

He holds a PhD in Petroleum System Engineering from the University of Regina in Canada, a Master of Science in Petroleum Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering, both from South West Petroleum Institute in China.

20. Proscovia Nabbanja

Chief Executive Officer

Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) 

Ms. Nabbanja has 19 years of experience in the oil and gas industry.

Her current role requires providing an oversight role on all the company’s activities and its subsidiaries, including; developing and executing the company’s corporate strategy and plans.

She also plays a key role in managing the business aspects of State participation across the petroleum value chain, including upstream, refining, transportation and storage, and identifying and proposing commercially viable investments across the petroleum value chain.

Her strategic decisions and impactful initiatives have positioned her as an influential figure in the country and the broader global energy landscape. One of her most remarkable achievements was steering UNOC through crucial negotiations of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), securing agreements that solidified Uganda’s position in the regional energy sector.

Under her guidance, the Upstream and EACOP Projects reached the Final Investment Decision, marking significant milestones in Uganda’s petroleum industry, driven by her strategic decisions and ability to secure essential investments and partnerships.

Nabbanja’s commitment to exploration and unlocking Uganda’s natural resources is evident in her acquisition of an exploration license over the Kasuruban Contract Area during the Second licensing round.

She formerly served as a Principal Geologist in the Petroleum Exploration and Production Department under the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development.

She has sat on a number of inter-ministerial committees and also worked on several Donor-funded programs such as Oil for Development and USAID.

She holds a Master of Business Administration from the Imperial College Business School, London, a Master of Science in Petroleum Geoscience from the Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine, London and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geology and Chemistry from Makerere University, among other academic accomplishments.

21. Martin Tiffen 

Managing Director

East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP)

He is currently the Managing Director of, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) tasked with engaging all stakeholders internally and externally to ensure delivery across all EACOP’s activities and geographies.

The 1,443-kilometre East African Crude Oil Pipeline is Uganda’s major midstream project with early civil works already underway in Tanzania.

Prior, he was Managing Director for Total EP Norge in Norway and Director of the Uganda Integrated Project Group covering the entire chain through the Reservoir, Drilling, Upstream facilities, Export Pipeline and the Marine Terminal at Tanga.

After graduating from Cambridge University with a degree in Engineering Science, Martin has spent his entire career in the upstream oil and gas industry, initially 8 years with Shell and for the last 28 years with Total.

He has held a variety of technical and commercial positions in Development, Projects, Operations and Business in Brunei, UK, France, Indonesia and The Netherlands.

22. Mariam Nampeera Mbowa

Deputy General Manager

Total EP Uganda

Nampeera’s position as a Deputy General Manager to Mr Phillipe Groueix is anchored in all Total Energies oil activities in Uganda and is responsible for human resources and administration, contracts and procurement, national content, as well as legal and compliance.

She’s also a Director at the East African Crude Oil Pipeline(EACOP) Limited with an office in London, UK.

Nampeera’s experience cuts across the energy business value chain with over 30 years of experience in broad business, legal, and regulatory experience and exposure spanning four jurisdictions in East Africa, Europe, South East Asia, and Central Asia.

She’s an astute problem solver with a proven track record for successfully managing complex operating contexts and commercial negotiations.

Nampeera previously served as Leader of Tullow Oil’s business and organisation in Uganda and was responsible for setting the strategic direction, for the organisation, operations and/or joint venture activities of the Tullow entities in Uganda.

Tullow Oil is reputed for its long history in Uganda since the discovery of oil in 2006 and in the next phase of building the momentum of Uganda’s major oil development project till its exit in November 2020.

23. John Bosco Habumugisha

Deputy Managing Director, East African Crude Oil Pipeline

General Manager EACOP Uganda Branch

As Deputy Managing Director, Habumugisha works with the Managing Director in engaging all stakeholders internally and externally to ensure delivery across all EACOPs activities and geographies.

As General Manager of Uganda, he is responsible for non-Project Uganda-based activities including the direct report of the Uganda Land and Social Manager, Operational Health Safety Environment and Security, and Uganda Contracts and Procurement.

Habumugisha has over 25 years of experience in petroleum infrastructure development including pipelines and storage facilities, policy formulation and implementation, international humanitarian operations with the United Nations and private sector downstream petroleum operations.

He is a multi-skilled engineering and management professional who holds a Master’s’ degree with Distinction in Pipeline Engineering from Newcastle University, United Kingdom, a Master’s’ degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of New South Wales, Australia, and a 1st Class Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Makerere University, in addition to various certificates.

He’s also a member of the Professional Institute of Pipeline Engineers (PIPE), the Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers (UIPE), and the Institution of Procurement Professionals of Uganda (IPPU).

24. Dr. Micheal Mugerwa

General Manager

Uganda Refinery Holding Company

Dr. Mugerwa is a chemical engineer, with over 32 years of professional technical and management experience in the global oil, gas and renewable energy industry. 

He currently works with Uganda Refinery Holding Company, a subsidiary of Uganda National Oil Company.

His areas of expertise include process engineering, project management, project controls, risk management, contracts, safety, oil refinery technologies, fuel cell systems, and geothermal power plants.

Mugerwa is in the lead of managing the construction of the expected 60,000-barrel oil refinery in Kabalega Industrial Park in Hoima District.

In the recent past, he was based in Europe and North America and worked for the global engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractors Technip and Jacobs Engineering serving the oil, gas and petrochemical industries.

Mugerwa holds a Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD degrees in Chemical Engineering, all from the University of Manchester, UK. His postgraduate research focused on characterising and modelling pore structures in oil-bearing sandstones and petrochemical catalysts.

He is also a Chartered Engineer (UK) and an Institution of Chemical Engineers Fellow.

25. Mathias Katamba

Board Member 

Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) 

Mathias is the Board Chairman of UNOC. He is a Governance, Leadership and Strategy Consultant, as well as an Executive Coach with over 25 years of high-level corporate experience. He is the Founder and Team Leader at MAKLEAD, a consulting and business advisory firm and currently serves on several Boards in multiple sectors.

He is also an accomplished Banker and has previously served as Chief Executive of 3 commercial Banks (Finance Trust Bank, Housing Finance Bank and dfcu Bank) in addition to co-founding Progression Capital Africa, an East African Financial Inclusion Private Equity Fund. 

He has in addition previously served as Chairman of the Bankers Association, the Institute of Bankers and the Association of Microfinance Institutions in Uganda. He is a Champion of sustainability and inclusive social economic transformation.

He has attained Advanced Executive Leadership Training from Harvard Kennedy School (Harvard University), Wharton Business School (University of Pennsylvania), Strathmore Business School, Lagos Business School and IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain. He also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Relations from the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, a Master of Science in Financial Management from the University of East London and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Greenwich. 

26. Mr Byakagaba Abdul Bazaara

Managing Director

Oranto Petroleum Ltd Uganda

Abdul Bazara Byakagaba is a seasoned Petroleum Geoscientist holding three Master’s Degrees, specializing in Petroleum Geoscience from Reading University, Strategic Planning and Oil/Gas Management from Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University, United Kingdom.

With over 30 years of hands-on experience, Byakagaba has worked with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Heritage Oil and Gas Limited, Tullow Oil Limited and lately, Oranto Petroleum Limited.

He has demonstrated expertise in project management, strategic planning, negotiations, and petroleum exploration, having played a pivotal role in the discovery of the Kingfisher and Jobi/Rii oil fields. Currently serving as the General Manager of Oranto Petroleum Limited – Uganda, Byakagaba brings an extensive background in managing oil operations, ensuring compliance, and fostering stakeholder management.

Byakagaba has played a big role in guiding and coordinating teams of consultants for the Ngassa petroleum exploration resource and economic assessment, identifying five drilling locations that increased the petroleum resource potential in the block.

He has also been at the forefront of coordinating all work programs, including technical studies as agreed in the Production Sharing Agreements which recently resulted in the successful renewals of the license.

Byakagaba previously served as Deputy Transition Manager at Tullow Oil between 2010 – 2015 where he successfully coordinated the integration of Heritage/Tullow Oil staff, assets, operations and procedures.

He also served as Principal Geologist at the Ministry of Energy & Mineral Development (1992 – 2004)  where he coordinated and supervised a team of geoscientists in mapping, reporting, and compiling promotional materials that led to licensing oil companies.

27. Dr. Tom Buringuriza

Country Manager

Armour Energy, Uganda 

Dr. Buringuriza is the Country Manager for Armour Energy, an Australian Oil and Gas exploration company that was licensed for the Kanywataba License Area in Uganda. 

He managed the bidding process and negotiated the Production Sharing Agreements, and went on to recruit, train staff and procure various contractors to implement the work program of the company. He handles all Government relations and all compliance as required by the regulator in Uganda. 

Dr. Buringuriza has wide experience in both public and private sector setups, for over three decades with valuable contacts and knowledge of the different investment environments and processes in the East African region. He has experience in senior management with multinationals such as DHL and MAERSK and with development agencies, such as GIZ. 

He’s a national consultant for skills development in Uganda working for the GIZ program on Oil and Gas. A member of the Presidential Investors’ Round Table (PIRT), a platform that advises the government of Uganda on the investment climate for Oil and Gas and other sectors. The members of this body are appointed by the President of Uganda and coordinated by the Prime Minister. 

He holds boardroom experience as a Board Member of Citibank in Uganda and facilitates investments to set up in Uganda; experience in agriculture, oil and gas, shipping and other sectors. 

At the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), he was deputy and later Acting Chief Executive Officer. He travelled widely to attract specific investments to Uganda. As Senior Economist at the Civil Aviation Authority, he participated in world tourism expos to promote Uganda’s tourism and air traffic to the Entebbe International Airport.

Dr. Buringuriza holds a Bachelor of Statistics Degree from Makerere University, an MBA, a Master of Philosophy and a Doctor of Business Administration from Maastricht School of Management (MSM).

28. Faustine Mugisha

Commercial and Joint Venture Manager

Total E&P Uganda

Mugisha brings experience from previous roles at Total Uganda Limited (TotalEnergies Marketing) and Total E&P Uganda Limited with a robust skill set that includes petroleum, gas, negotiation, retail sales and business strategy. 

He kicked off his career in the year 2000 serving in the Depot Management, Retail Territory Executive, Commercial Sales, Retail Sales, Commercial Sales and Specialities Manager and later Commercial and Joint Venture Manager, a role he took on in 2019 till to date. 

Mugisha is a Mechanical Engineering graduate from Makerere University and holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Human Resources Management and Services from Nkumba University. 

29. Kamuntu Gilbert

Chief Commercial Officer

Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC)

Kamuntu has 15 years of experience almost all of it within the oil and gas industry and was a key negotiator in the delivery of the Final Investment Decision (FID)

He’s responsible for developing commercial excellence at UNOC, and his experience includes economic modelling, business analysis and commercial negotiations across the petroleum value chain from upstream production, refining, crude oil pipelines and oil terminals.

He began his oil and gas career with Shell as a refinery economist at Stanlow Refinery in North West England, after which he spent several years in Shell’s Strategy, Mergers and Acquisitions working on transactions in Europe, Asia, North America and Africa.

Kamuntu also worked for Tullow Oil PLC on the Uganda and Kenya Upstream Developments based in London, Nairobi and Kampala.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree (Honours) in Mechanical Engineering from Nottingham University, a Master’s (Distinction) in Energy Studies specializing in Energy Finance from Dundee University and an MBA (Merit) from the University of British Columbia.

His Master’s thesis focused on the weaknesses of crude oil benchmarks in financial derivatives. He has also completed several courses in project and infrastructure finance, corporate strategy and leadership at Manchester Business School and London Business School.

30. Samantha Muhwezi Kassami

Chief Operating Officer

Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) 

Samantha is an oil and gas professional with hands-on experience in the sector. She holds a Bachelor of Laws from the London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE), a Postgraduate Diploma, and a Master of Laws from BPP University London UK. 

She is a solicitor qualified to practice in England and Wales and a member of the Law Society, London UK. She trained, qualified, and practised at Linklaters LLP, a Magic Circle law firm.

She joined TotalEnergies S.E. in 2016 as part of their three-person pipeline project team and led the negotiations for the pipeline and worked on all aspects to lead the EACOP Project to a Final Investment Decision in 2022. 

Ms. Muhwezi has broad technical and managerial experience across all aspects of oil and gas and an intrinsic understanding of its framework and processes.

Samantha was also part of the senior leadership TotalEnergies seconded to EACOP, where she also served as the EACOP’s Legal Director and Company Secretary, responsible for the implementation of the agreed legal framework for the EACOP in Uganda and Tanzania (Host Government Agreements, Shareholders Agreement, Tariff & Transportation Agreement) and ensuring compliance with all applicable laws to EACOP and its activities. 

As Legal Director, she was responsible for the management of the legal function to ensure the provision of, high quality, commercial and operational legal services to the EACOP Company and Project. As Company Secretary, she was responsible for the governance and administration of the EACOP Company.

Samantha established the EACOP Women’s Initiative, a community-led initiative in EACOP to provide a space and platform for women to network, receive and give mentorship, among other achievements.

As one of the lead negotiators for the framework agreements underpinning Uganda’s nascent oil and gas industry, Ms Muhwezi brings hands-on experience, pragmatism, and a balanced approach to securing Uganda’s short-term and long-term interests in the sector.

31. Peter Muliisa

Chief Legal and Corporate Affairs Officer

Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC)

Muliisa is a key figure at UNOC, a government-owned entity tasked with managing the State’s commercial interests in Uganda’s growing petroleum sector.

As one of the initial three employees of UNOC, Muliisa played a pivotal role in its establishment, focusing on corporate governance structures and shaping the company culture.

Under his leadership, UNOC has successfully implemented robust governance measures, consistently receives unqualified audits, and maintains a strong record of compliance.

In his role spearheading Corporate Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement, Muliisa has significantly boosted UNOC’s brand visibility and awareness. He has played a crucial role in protecting the company’s image against online attacks and misinformation.

As General Counsel, he has been actively involved in negotiating key agreements that have contributed to the development of Uganda’s oil and gas industry, leading to major investment decisions. Notably, he has served as the lead negotiator for critical agreements related to Tilenga, Kingfisher, and EACOP, which played a pivotal role in the industry’s advancement.

His responsibilities also include managing legal risks and ensuring compliance across all company processes.

Before joining UNOC, Muliisa was involved in the Heritage and Tullow arbitrations and related tax cases, resulting in Uganda collecting significant revenue from the oil and gas industry. With over 11 years of tax practice, Muliisa has demonstrated success in handling various tax cases in Ugandan courts. He is a qualified lawyer and a member of the Uganda Law Society and the East African Law Society.

His educational background includes a Bachelor of Laws degree from Makerere University, a Post-Graduate diploma in legal practice from Law Development Centre, Kampala, and a Master of Laws in Petroleum Taxation and Finance from the University of Dundee, UK.

Beyond his legal expertise, Muliisa is engaged in discussions related to environmental social and Governance (ESG) and climate change, recognizing them as key and emerging issues in today’s business landscape.

32. Eng. Herbert Magyezi Mugizi

Board Member 

Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC)

Eng. Herbert Magyezi Mugizi, is currently a Principal Petroleum Engineer in the Directorate of Petroleum, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development. He has over fifteen (15) years of experience in the petroleum industry, ranging from exploration, development, and production, to refining, transportation and storage.

Eng. Mugizi is the Project Coordinator of the EACOP Project in the Ministry and supervises the Divisions of Refining, Gas Conversion, Petroleum Transportation and Storage in the Midstream Petroleum Department.

Over the years, Eng. Mugizi has been involved in various projects across the petroleum value chain. He has participated in drafting Petroleum Sharing Agreements (PSAs), laws, regulations, and guidelines. He has also been involved in reserves estimation, reservoir evaluation, detailed engineering studies, project planning, Field Development Plans, negotiation of agreements and licencing among others.

Eng. Mugizi holds an MSc in Energy, Trade and Finance with distinction from Cass Business School, City, University of London, where he was presented the Beta Gamma Award. He also holds an MSc in Reservoir Evaluation and Management from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, and a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from Makerere University, Kampala. 

He has undertaken several specialised trainings in petroleum-related disciplines from Petrad-Norway, the University of Texas at Austin, and India among others. Eng. Mugizi is a registered Engineer (#1208), a member of the Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers (UIPE} and the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE).

33. Moses Kabanda

Board Member 

Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC)

Moses has over 20 years of experience in public sector policy formulation and management. He has vast experience in macroeconomic management, energy policy and petroleum revenue management, economic and financial modelling, project finance and structuring, and public finance management. 

He is an Ag. Commissioner, Public Administration at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. Moses holds an MSc. in Energy Studies specializing in Oil and Gas Economics from the University of Dundee – United Kingdom, an MSc. in Economics from the University of Birmingham – United Kingdom, and a BSc in Quantitative Economics from Makerere University.

He has also completed several other professional development trainings in project and infrastructure finance, project management (certified PMP), economic and financial modelling, petroleum project economics and risk management, and public finance management.

34. Zulaika Mirembe

Board Member 

Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC)

Zulaika is a graduate of Makerere University with a law degree and is an Advocate of the High Court of Uganda and all subordinate courts. She is also a graduate of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators and completed the Leadership Development Female Future Program on Board Competence.

Zulaika is a partner at Kampala Associated Advocates, a leading law firm in Uganda and heads the corporate and commercial transactions department. She has an excellent appreciation and understanding of the legal and business environment in Uganda and in several countries across Africa and possesses over 10 years of experience as an in-house lawyer in some of the biggest corporations in the country.

She has in-depth knowledge of the internal workings of corporations as well as public sector regulation and sits on numerous boards across various sectors as a company secretary. Zulaika has worked in a cross-section of legal spheres including banking and finance, oil and gas, mining, labour law, telecommunications law, real estate and corporate transactions advisory amongst others. Zulaika is an avid reader and enjoys running. She participates in numerous charity activities centered on education and child welfare and she is a volunteer with several mentoring programs for young women.

35. Dr. Simon Echegu

Board Member 

Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC)

Dr. Simon Echegu is a Senior Academic staff at Makerere University currently working as a Lecturer and Researcher in the Department of Geology and Petroleum Studies. He has 20 years of experience in the Oil and Gas Industry, most of it gained from working in the Albertine Graben; initially as a Petroleum Geochemist for 10 years, and later as a Consultant, at the Directorate of Petroleum, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development.

Dr. Echegu holds a Special Presidential Recognition for dedicated Exploration Efforts from the Government. He is also a member of the Governing Council of Uganda Petroleum Institute, Kigumba (UPIK) as well as a member of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), technical committee (UNBS/TC 317); petroleum refining and transportation materials, equipment and structures. He has worked as a Lead Expert (Petroleum) on various assignments for the National Council for Higher Education.

A Fulbright Science and Technology Awardee, Dr. Echegu holds a PhD. in Geology (Petroleum Geochemistry/Basin and Petroleum Systems) from the University of Houston; MSc. Petroleum Geochemistry from the University of Newcastle; BSc. Geology from Makerere University; a Diploma in Management of Petroleum Development and Operations from PETRAD Norway; and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration from Uganda Management Institute.

36. Tony Otoa

Chief Corporate Affairs Officer

Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) 

Otoa is an experienced Public Affairs Coordinator with a demonstrated history of working in the oil & energy industry with a main focus on Local/National content. Skilled in Negotiation, Event Planning, Editing, Event Management, and Public Speaking. Strong administrative professional with a BSC in International relations and a Master’s of Laws in International Law from Oxford Brookes University. 

Mr Otoa spearheaded the set up of the Stanbic Business Incubator and is a business architect in promoting the participation of local Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the oil sector. The Business Incubator has supported over 1000 micro, small and medium enterprises country-wide.

Otoa was also a key pillar in supporting the oil and gas strategy for Stanbic Bank to support local businesses better, and in so doing, he has delivered more than USD 800,000 in external funding for the expansion of the business training programme moving out of Kampala to other key cities such as Gulu, Mbarara, Mbale and Hoima.

Previously, Otoa also worked as a key advisor to the Uganda Chamber of Mines and Petroleum advising the Chamber on matters of oil and gas in Uganda and the East African region to ensure maximum engagement by the chamber members.  

He was also instrumental in developing policy documents and engagement plans for the chamber on matters of oil and gas and the area of local content.

Otoa worked with Total Energies and contributed to developing and coordinating the strategic political, social and economic networking policy to ensure the good image of the affiliate and the Group and facilitate the affiliate’s activities. 

As a key player, he supported the initial EACOP pipeline discussions and managed the design of the Oil and Gas Industry Enhancement Center (IEC) as well as the standardization of Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV) for oil and gas.

CONTRACTORS & SERVICE PROVIDERS

37. Valerian Pfrimmer

Managing Director,

Schlumberger (SLB)- East and South Africa

 Valerian Pfrimmer is the Managing Director – East and South Africa for Schlumberger (SLB), a role he assumed in April 2023. The SLB veteran who has been with the firm for over 18 years and has worked in various roles in Europe, South and North America and most recently Africa is overseeing SLB’s operations in Uganda. 

Schlumberger is a technology company that partners with customers to access energy. With expertise and presence in more than 120 countries, it is one of the largest oil services providers in the world.  

In March 2022, Schlumberger was awarded an extensive contract for drilling, completions and production services by TotalEnergies for its Tilenga onshore oil development in Uganda. The scope of the contract includes the provision of directional drilling services, upper completions, lower completions, artificial lift solutions, and wellheads for the Tilenga development, which comprises six fields with up to 426 wells, which will be developed across 31 well pads. 

Valerian Pfrimmer holds various qualifications, amongst them a Masters Degree in Purchasing from the Université de Bordeaux in France as well as another in Electronics and Microelectronics from the Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse III, also in France.

38. Jimmy Mugerwa

Chief Executive Officer

Zoramu Consulting Group Limited

Mr Jimmy D. Mugerwa is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Zoramu Consulting Group Limited, a private oil and gas business advisory firm.

Mugerwa is an established name with a distinguished career of over three decades, as a business executive leader within the oil and gas industry, both upstream and downstream, working across Africa and Europe.

He worked most prominently, as the Managing Director for Tullow Oil in Uganda, in which he led the team in the exploration and development of the Lake Albert basin oil fields. 

He has a strong background in successfully leading teams, managing complex projects, building government and stakeholder relationships, managing Joint ventures, strategy development, Marketing and Operational excellence.  

Prior to Tullow Oil, Mugerwa spent 19 years at Royal Dutch Shell, serving in several executive positions including being the Kenya Shell Country Chair/General Manager, Shell East Africa operations, Africa Retail Marketing and Strategy Manager for Shell and was also Senior Regional Advisor for sub-Saharan Africa at the corporate head office in the Netherlands.

Until December 2019, Mr Mugerwa chaired the Presidential Investor Round Table for Oil and Gas for four years. 

The Presidential Investors’ Round Table (PIRT), which is chaired by the President of Uganda, H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, is a high-level forum that brings together a select group of both foreign and local investors to advise the government on how to improve the investment climate in the country.

Mr Mugerwa holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Agriculture from Makerere University and a  Master’s degree from the University of Wales. He also holds the Financial Times Non-Executive Director Post-Graduate Diploma, and several certificates in Oil and Gas and is an alumnus of the Executive Business Leadership Programme at IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland.

39. Dr. Mugasha Ben

Director

Bemuga Group

Dr. Mugasha runs Bemuga Group which started in 1994 with humble beginnings as a customs clearance and brokerage house trading as Cargo Masters, operating from downtown Kampala.

As Cargo Master, the company penetrated the mining sector, supporting clients who were exploring gold mining in the Karamoja sub-region in North Eastern Uganda. In 1997, after a year of exploration in mining, the company armed with experience switched their ambitions to venture into oil and gas exploration in Uganda.

Cargo Master did quite some work for Heritage Oil and Gas, one of the earliest companies in the Ugandan oil and gas rush. With the growing service scope and having realised the potential of oil and gas in Uganda, the founders saw fit to remodel and re-brand.

As a result, Bemuga Forwarders Ltd was incorporated in 1999 and took over the operations of Cargo Masters. The service scope continued to grow well into the eventual Oil and Gas exploration phase in the early 2000s.

Bemuga has since served almost all the oil and gas IOCs in the country delivering turnkey solutions and receiving some accolades of service over the years. The Group is now a key player in the oil and gas sector offering services under four businesses including Logistics solutions, heavy machinery rental and hire services, transport management solutions and specialized and professional lifting services.

40. Geoffrey Baitwa

Managing Director

Bro Group Holdings

Mr Geoffrey Baitwa is a Co-Managing Director at BRO Group Holdings and a key pioneer within the oil and gas logistics space having won several multi-million dollar contracts in Tilenga and KingFisher projects, especially in shipping oil rig equipment under their flagship logistics business of Threeways Shipping Shipping Services.

Mr Baitwa co-founded the business with his brother Mr Oscar Baitwa, and he oversaw the set-up of the Kenya and Tanzania operations.

He continues to play a critical role in the overall turnaround of Bro Group from a commercial and operations perspective.

Furthermore, he has played a key role in establishing the business within the Oil and Gas sector.

BRO Group Holdings recently announced a new board and management with Threeways Shipping and Transtrac being the leading companies in the Ugandan supply chain industry with a focus on delivering logistics solutions in the oil sector.

In a published statement, the group noted that the “opportunity lies in promoting local content and active Ugandan participation in the oil sector. 

41. Aggrey Ashaba

General Manager

Alliad (formerly GCC Services Uganda)

Ashaba is a shareholder and General Manager at Alliad (formerly GCC Services Uganda), a company providing construction, life support, and facilities maintenance among other services to oil and gas players since 2011. The company also has a presence in the power and infrastructure space.

The company has been operating in Uganda since 2010 largely offering services in critical energy projects with significant local engagement which includes training and upskilling of the local workforce, as well as support and development of local vendors and suppliers, including farmers.

He was recently elected the Chairman of the Uganda Chamber of Mines and Petroleum (UCMP) after serving his full term as its General Secretary. He also serves as a board member of the Private Sector Foundation Uganda representing the Energy and Extractives sector.

A member of the Presidential Round Tables on both Mining and Oil and Gas, he also sits on a number of other regional and continental private sector bodies in the same space.

He is a thought leader and a regular panellist at several oil and gas summits in Uganda and abroad.

42. Tom Mukasa

Chief Executive Officer

Pearl Engineering

Mukasa’s engineering company has been involved in the oil sector since 2009 during exploration activities and runs multi-million dollar contracts in the oil and gas sector.

Over the years, it has grown and improved exponentially in certification and management – thanks to the professional and technical support provided by oil and gas companies like TotalEnergies EP Uganda, through channels like supplier development forums.

The company has a long relationship with oil and gas companies having worked with Heritage Oil, Tullow Oil and Total E&P since back in the day.

In 2022, Mukasa in an interview told the Energy Year, a U.K.-based industry publication that the company had secured around USD 8 million worth of projects towards the end of the year. Some of the notable tenders won being in the Tilenga Project – from TotalEnergies and Mota-Engil subcontracts, alongside other local players.

These works include enabling civil works for well and drill pads and access roads, as well as general construction in the exploration areas 1 and 2 at Tilenga, including the A1 and C1 roads.

Mukasa runs the company alongside other six Ugandans with different professional backgrounds and experiences that date from 1994. 

43. Abdul Kibuuka

Chief Executive Officer

True North Consult

Kibuuka is the Chief Executive Officer and Founding Director of True North Consult Ltd, a boutique management consulting firm based in Uganda with offices in Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda.

He is a senior human resource consultant on national content matters in the oil and gas sector in Uganda and a former president of the Human Resource Managers’ Association of Uganda.

His management consultancy services to several organisations span several sectors including oil and gas, banking, telecoms, manufacturing and selected government agencies.

Prior to joining True North Consult as Chief Executive Officer, he had a stellar career in the oil and gas industry where he worked in varied senior management roles with the Royal Dutch Shell in their downstream operations in Africa before joining Tullow Oil as their pioneer Head of Human Resources in Uganda.

At Tullow Oil, he also worked as Group Head of Talent and Competence Development based in London before subsequently being appointed as Head of Public Affairs for Tullow Uganda.

44. Patrick Mbonye

Chief Executive Officer

Q-Sourcing Servtec Group

Mbonye is the Chief Executive Officer of Q-Sourcing Servtec Group, a multi-professional management solutions firm. Under his leadership, the company has become a cornerstone in the East African region, innovatively supporting hundreds of organizations by providing them with skilled talent.

In 2021, Q-Sourcing Servtec Group entered a significant partnership with Worldwide Recruitment Solutions, intensifying its focus on the burgeoning oil and gas sector’s manpower needs. The company’s expertise in recruitment and human resource consultancy is well-recognized, having collaborated with prominent players like Total, CNOOC, Worley, SINOPEC, and the East African Crude Oil Pipeline.

Mbonye’s illustrious career spans a multitude of global reform processes, primarily in supporting national, sector-wide projects and implementing result-oriented management assessment in both public and private sector management. While working with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), he made substantial contributions by managing and coordinating the utilization of a Private Sector Development Grant Fund. This initiative, rather than being notable for its monetary value alone, had a significant impact on the growth and development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Microfinance sectors.

Further demonstrating his commitment to strategic growth and development, Mbonye has been instrumental in designing strategic financing and investment partnership documents. These documents have guided the relationship between the Government of Uganda, UNDP, and implementing agencies, particularly in the realm of Private Sector Development.

An advocate of continuous learning and improvement, Mbonye is actively implementing the SEED transformation plan for Q-Sourcing Servtec Group, a program conceptualized by Stanford Business School, USA.

Educationally, he is equipped with a Bachelor’s in Agricultural Economics, a Master’s Degree in Agricultural Economics and Business Management, and a Diploma in Project Planning and Management.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Mbonye is a passionate hiker, cyclist, and mountaineer.

45. Roger Biribonwa

Co-Founder

Covae Uganda Limited

Covae is a business advisory firm that provides, cost and project management, oilfield services, valuation surveys and environmental management solutions.

Covae started operations in 2004 as a surveying practice. Since 2018, the company has grown its services base to offer technical solutions and project management. 

Biribonwa, the co-founder, is a seasoned strategic commercial expert with a remarkable track record spanning over 24 years of international leadership experience. He specializes in delivering large infrastructure Engineering, Procurement and Construction developments across diverse sectors, including oil and gas, in countries such as Uganda, Kenya, Ghana, and the United Kingdom.

In his role as Chief Commercial Officer, Biribonwa has developed key skill sets in project services, business development management, and commercial management. He supports clients in establishing best practices crucial for the success of any built project. Biribonwa’s expertise extends to acting as a development manager, guiding clients through challenges such as structuring, financing, construction, and off-take risks. 

He has played a pivotal role in shaping project cost management in Uganda’s nascent oil sector.

His contributions include developing policies and procedures for operational cost tracking, value engineering, and budgets, facilitating the successful delivery of over 120 exploration wells and three major supply base developments in East Africa for Tullow Oil.

Beyond his professional endeavours, Biribonwa demonstrates a commitment to maximizing local content and fostering international partnerships through his company, COVAE.

His collaboration with international entities such as EDG and Actemium empowers Ugandan women and men with sector knowledge and experiences in oilfield services thereby contributing to the growth and development of local talent and expertise.

He holds a BSc (HON) in Quantity Surveying from the University of Portsmouth; Petroleum Project Management from PetroSkills, Houston, USA; and African Petroleum Contracts at CWC School of Energy, UK.

46. Bukenya Augustine Guster

Managing Director

Beautiful Engineering and Equipment Limited

Bukenya is well known in oil and gas circles as a main organiser of the annual Uganda International Oil and Gas Summit which has happened for the last 10 years.

The summit is one of the most significant meetings for Uganda’s development plans and it brings together all prospecting oil majors, the ministry, the petroleum authority, the national oil company, lead service providers, contractors, investors, financial services, indigenous companies, law firms and every stop along the value chain on the African continent.

The event last year was attended by President Museveni, and among the major issues discussed included prospectivity and the latest licensing round, local content and expertise, latest tech and services, and financial models.

Bukenya’s company- Beautiful Engineering is a contractor at the KingFisher oil project and is involved in fire suppression and maintenance of fire equipment.

Bukenya is also involved in exploration activities under another company – Petro Afrik Natural Resources Limited in a joint venture with Niger Delta Petroleum Resources from Nigeria. The two were shortlisted for a second licensing round for the exploration of new oil blocks in the Albertine Graben.

47. Dr. Nandanan Kannan Pulakkal

Chief Executive Officer

Future Options Consulting

Fondly known as ‘Dan’, he runs Future Options, a human resource consulting firm that has worked in sourcing for top talent to serve human resource needs in the oil and gas sector.

He oversees the headhunting and executive recruitment on the people’s side of the business and has led critical strategic planning ranging from organisational capacity assessment, organisational design, job analysis and evaluation, salary and benefits surveys, employee engagement and 360-degree feedback surveys.

He also runs IndoAfricHR which is focused on meeting Africa’s growing demand for talented professionals.

Dr. Nandanan’s human resource firm has worked with Total Energies to restore, transition and improve the lives of Project-Affected People in oil-host communities. He played a role in providing Business Management and Financial Capacity Services (BMT), Vocational Training (VT), Vulnerable Group Support (VGS), Employment Linkages and Monitoring and Evaluation services to 104 PAPs in Buliisa district.

Under the Business Management Training, a total of 114 project-affected persons benefited from the programme between September 2019 and August 2021.

Based on the needs assessments, the shortlisted Project Affected Persons were offered the option for eight Vocational Training courses: Tailoring, Catering, Automotive Mechanics, Motorcycle Mechanics, Driving skills, Hair Dressing, Plumbing, and Welding.

He previously served in other major roles from the late 1980s to mid-2000 on the Asian continent such as being an Assistant Manager at the State Bank of India and General Manager at Stanhope Finance Company.

He has several academic accomplishments to his name including a Master’s in Business Administration from Heriot-Watt University, and a Doctor of Business Administration from the Swiss School of Business and Management among other qualifications.

48. Edgar Mugisha

Managing Partner

Atacama Consulting

Mugisha is a Managing Partner at Atacama Consulting, a leading consultancy firm in environmental and social impact assessment, resettlement action plans, environmental auditing and due diligence, monitoring and evaluation, and carbon footprinting among other key roles.

According to his LinkedIn profile, he’s an experienced Environmental Advisory Services professional with a demonstrated history of working in the environmental services industry for a range of clients that include; multinationals, UN organisations, the World Bank, and International Finance Corporation, among others.

Mugisha has played a key role in leading the consulting firm’s involvement in the oil and gas sector which spans close to a decade. This is especially true in the provision of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) services for exploratory drilling activities in Exploration Area 4B (the current Ngaji block) to Dominion Uganda. Its operators at the time.

The perception then, was that such a service was best entrusted with international environmental consultancy firms, as the national capacity to undertake such work was deemed to be close to zero! Fueled with a determination to correct what was a misconception, Atacama was able to take advantage of the opportunity and exceeded expectations.

Atacama’s execution of the Dominion engagement has since paved the way for numerous assignments in the sector for all the key players including Total Energies, Tullow and CNOOC.

Mugisha holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management from Durham University Master of Science in Environmental Assessment and Management from Oxford Brookes University.
 

49. Dalia Prince

Head of Projects and Business Development

SunMaker Energy Uganda

Dalia Prince is a distinguished professional with over 8 years of illustrious experience in spearheading projects and driving business development initiatives in the oil and gas sector.

Armed with a background in Petroleum Engineering and a fervent passion for driving positive change, he has been instrumental in steering the design and implementation of projects aimed at fostering education, empowering youth, and women, nurturing SMEs, and engaging communities.

He has played a key role in spearheading the Community Capacity Project, a monumental endeavour that saw the transformation of 4000 oil project workers through comprehensive financial literacy training and indispensable business support across five districts,  laying the foundation for sustainable socio-economic development.

He pioneered the training of beneficiaries from the Albertine region in 3G and 4G welders’ training, meticulously crafted according to industry best practices in 2021, empowering individuals with cutting-edge skills essential for thriving in the competitive landscape of today

Dalia spearheaded the development, implementation, and certification of teachers and trainers from esteemed Albertine Institutions such as UPIK and UTC-Kichwamba under the Train the Trainer Project, revolutionizing trades such as Welding, Mechanical, and Electrical Installation in 2022, fostering a culture of knowledge dissemination and skill enhancement.

50. Daniel Kaggwa

Co-founder and Managing Director

Conexus Oil and Gas

Kaggwa runs Conexus, a local Ugandan company providing services across the oil and gas value chain established in November 2016.

He is an FCCA- A Fellow of Chartered Certified Accountants of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants-UK.

Kaggwa’s company provides strong technical support in developing local content in core areas of focus such as training, capacity development and machine shop services of fabrication and precision welding,

Kaggwa has established several business partnerships with both local and international companies to tap knowledge and technology from top industry players for the benefit of developing local capacity.

In the last eight years of operation, he has overseen the provision of business development of 200 Ugandan small and medium enterprises in the ten districts along the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) to enable them to effectively participate in the Oil and Gas sector;

He has also worked to formalise and standardise SMEs affiliated to the oil sector through linking them to markets, contractors and financial services.

Before devoting 90 percent of his work to the oil sector. He has held, led and amassed expertise and extensive training spanning over 15 years of experience such as – Uganda Fund Country Head with Business/ Partners for the East Africa Business Fund.

He also worked as Director of Finance at Uganda Development Bank Limited (UDBL) for three years. Kaggwa also spent seven years at Citibank in different capacities including deputy Chief Financial Officer and Head of Internal Controls.

His career journey started out in Accounting and Finance, at KPMG for four years where he obtained extensive training in auditing, accounting, financial advisory and risk management. Kaggwa is also a socio-entrepreneur with interests in other sectors and an avid Rugby Fellow.

51. Dennis Kamurasi

Managing Partner

Quantum Logistics 

Kamurasi is an Accountant by profession and the Vice-Chair of the Association of Uganda Oil & Gas Service Providers (AUGOS), Managing Director – of Jetset Forex Bureau, and Managing Partner – of Quantum Logistics.

Kamurasi is part of a Steering Committee set up by The Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) which among other things, is to provide strategic guidance to implement the African Development Bank (AfDB) Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) business linkages project. The committee, whose term runs for the duration of the project, has the delegated authority of the donors to make decisions by the objectives, approach and scope of the project set out in the Project Grant Agreement.

The steering committee constitutes 5 members including a representative from the Association of Oil and Gas Service Providers, Ministries of Energy and local government and PAU.

The Government of Uganda and the AfDB signed a USD$500,000 grant agreement on 17th September 2020 to build the capacity of over 200 MSMEs to boost business linkages along the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) route. 

The project is also intended to help MSMEs along the EACOP route to access new market opportunities through the creation of business linkages between MSMEs together with linkages between SMEs and large national, regional or international companies.

As a key stakeholder, Kamurasi has also authored a number of critical articles calling for alignment of the oil industry regarding tax disputes, local content regulations and environment-related protests. 

Kamurasi recently wrote noting that The Association of service providers in the sector has shifted its focus from non-involvement in the sector to the implementation of awarded contracts.

One major concern he cited is the late payment of invoices in the oil sector noting that it not only affects the contractors themselves but has also created a negative impression within the banking network hindering the sector’s growth.

52. Gen James Mugira

Managing Director

National Enterprise Corporation 

James Mugira is a lieutenant general in the Ugandan army. He is the managing director and chief executive officer of the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC), the business arm of the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF).

Lt Gen James Mugira, the Managing Director, National Enterprise Corporation, (NEC) on 10th January 2023 visited the ongoing construction of the, to check on the progress of the project.

Gen Mugira also has overall supervision of the Luwero Industries Ltd (LIL), a Subsidiary of National Enterprise Corporation (NEC). 

Luweero Industries was contracted to manage waste that will be accumulated from the drilling of crude oil through a Drilling Waste Treatment and Disposal Facility Plant at the Kingfisher Oil Field run by CNOOC in Kikuube District.

The oil waste management facilities will manage, treat and dispose of waste including solid and liquid treatment plants, engineered landfills, accommodation camps, and allied services to cater to over 150 personnel.

The facility employs over 100 locals.

53. Isaac Nsereko

Founder and Managing Director

DT Logistics and RI Distributors

Nsereko is an experienced executive with a background in Banking, Technology and Healthcare. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy from Makerere University; an MBA from the Bradford School of Management and He is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, United Kingdom.

He runs two logistics firms⏤ DT Logistics and RI Distributors. 

Incorporated in 2017, DT Logistics has since grown to become a significant player in the road freight services in East Africa moving an average of over 200 containers every month, predominantly between Kampala and Mombasa with an investment in top talent, robust processes and technology. As Managing Director of DT Logistics, Nsereko has been a key player in the oil sector and some of his work involved moving fabricated houses from Mombasa to Buliisa for building the 400-man camp in the Tilenga project.

He has also led RI Distributors from 2014 turning it into a significant player in the freight forwarding, distribution, transport, and logistics service in East Africa. The company is also part of the DDG logistics joint venture.

DDG Logistics Limited is a limited liability joint venture Ugandan company consisting of 5 partners. – Globetrotters Ltd, DT Logistics, Daks Couriers, RI Distributors & RichFlo Lift Services. The company was created to win oil contracts through the combined capacity and experience of the companies that make it up. The joint venture was involved in delivering the first Oil Rig from Mombasa to Kingfisher oil fields in Kikuube District. 

54. Harold .B. Ssemalwadde

Managing Director

Globe Trotters Limited

Ssemalwadde leads Globe Trotters, an ISO-certified locally owned Ugandan registered company and a major player in the oil sector with over 16 years of logistics experience.

The company has been involved in the movement of earth and construction equipment, casing and pipes, oil rig movements, infield water transport, cargo securing, inspection and personnel and Convoy Infield Transport Services both into INFIELD and outfield.

Globe Trotters Limited is also part of the DDG Logistics joint venture. 

55. Richard Magezi

Co-founder/ Managing Director

Richflo Lift Services

Magezi has been the Managing Director of Richflo Lift since the company’s humble beginnings in 1997, growing into one of the leading players in the lifting and handling services in Uganda and East Africa. 

RichFlo has over 26 years of experience in lifting operations and 16 years in the oil and gas sector since the early stages of oil exploration in Uganda in 2006. 

Magezi has been the lead of the company delivering lifting operations to major oil companies such as Tullow Oil and Heritage Oil, providing essential services such as oil rig assembly, well pad assembly, oil field infrastructure construction support, and transportation. 

As the oil and gas industry in Uganda moves into the production stage, the main stakeholders, TotalEnergies and China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC), have both contracted RichFlo for the key cranage operations in the Kingfisher Oil Field, a testament to the quality of the company’s services and our reputation in the industry. 

Being aware of the change oil and gas projects will bring to this country, Magezi has led the company to invest in the latest technology, refine its business processes and upskill the team to adapt to the rigorous demands of the industry.

Richflo Lift Services is also part of the DDG Logistics consortium. 

56. David Kasingwire

Chief Executive Officer

Daks Couriers 

Kasingwire holds a Bachelor of Economics from Makerere University. He has built Daks Couriers Ltd from inception to being a big player in courier and logistics in Uganda. 

Kasingwire’s Daks Couriers is also part of the DDG group playing a pivotal role in offering logistical services in the oil sector. 

According to his LinkedIn profile, he strives to sustain and grow the company’s aspiration based on having continuous improvements across all departments daily.

57. Moses Kitaka

Technical Director

Epsilon Uganda Limited

Kitaka is a Technical Director and Shareholder at Epsilon, a Ugandan waste management firm. In 2017, the firm partnered with Danish giants Desmi to provide oil-spill response services to Uganda’s nascent oil sector.

The partnership also aimed to provide Epsilon with modern equipment for environmental clean-ups in case of oil spills as well as specialised training to oil sector players.

Desmi has 40 years of experience in the production of oil-spill waste management equipment while Epsilon is licensed by the National Environment Management Authority to transport, store and dispose of hazardous and non-hazardous waste.

Kitaka has been a key panellist and speaker at major oil engagements in Uganda, calling for hard work, improvement and structuring financing needs that are fit for the demands of the sector.

58. Bob Kabonero

Director

Europcar (Intercar (U) Ltd) 

Kabonero’s Europcar (Intercar (U) Ltd) is one of the major providers of car rental and transport solutions in the oil and gas industry. 

Industry sources also say that some of his companies are involved in waste management and the provision of security and clearing and forwarding services. 

Kabonero is a founder member of the Association of Oil and Gas Service Providers (AUGOS) in Uganda⏤ an association which lobbies for the interests of Ugandan companies.

Kabonero has been at the forefront of pushing for more local content in oil and gas so that more local companies benefit. 

In an interview with The Report, a Spanish-based content distribution company, Kabonero said many business contracts had been given to foreign companies who had the muscle and the capital, and there was a growing resentment amongst the small local businesses.

Kabonero noted that he founded the association not out of personal interest but out of having seen the experiences in other African countries, such as Nigeria.

In November 2022, Kabonero was among Uganda’s top businessmen who threw their weight behind the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). The other businessmen included; Charles Mbire, Elly Karuhanga, Aga Ssekalala, and Badru Muwanga. 

“We give our unreserved and wholehearted support for the responsible development of the natural resources Uganda is endowed with, including the associated construction of the EACOP pipeline and the Refinery. It is only through sustained economic development that Uganda will continue improving the livelihoods of its citizens,” the business leaders said in the joint statement.

59. Malkit Singh Saini

Managing Director

Excel Construction Ltd

Malkit Singh Saini has been the Managing Director of  Excel Construction Limited since the early 2000s.

The company is a subsidiary of the Madhvani Group. It was formed as a joint venture company between Muljibhai Madhvani & Company and Gomba Construction Ltd in 1992. 

It has been actively involved in the oil sector since 2007 to date and has carried out various civil enabling works for Tullow Oil Plc, Heritage Oil & Gas, Total E&P Uganda Ltd and CNOOC (U) Ltd.

In 2022, Excel Construction commenced site clearance works at CNOOC Uganda’s Kingfisher oil fields and has been actively involved in the construction of well pads, access roads and water intake points, in preparation for production of the oil and gas resources.

The company also worked with other oil companies in the early stages of oil discovery.

In 2008, Heritage Oil and Gas Limited contracted Excel to construct new drill pad access roads, flare pits, evaporation pits, cellars, drainage works, perimeter ditches and fencing works, and environmental mothballing works.

The company has built on its previous experience to establish itself as the dominant construction company in the oil and gas sector.

60. Aurelie Duchateau

Country Manager

Aldelia Uganda

Aurelie is a highly skilled human resource professional working with Aldelia Uganda, a company providing human resources services to multinationals and fast-growing SMEs alike in IT, Banking, Energy – traditional and renewable – to Agriculture, Telecoms, and Consumer products (FMCG).

Aldelia Uganda is part of the out-of-London global HR agency. 

On LinkedIn, Aurelie describes herself as a motivated and dynamic professional passionate about people development, teamwork, positive societal impact, business development and coaching, as well as a competitive mindset.  

Aurelie’s human resource experience spans several continents having worked in Europe and East Africa. She’s a fluent French, and English speaker, with knowledge of German and Dutch.

Before joining Aldelia, she spent a decade at SeaOwl Energy Services, serving in various managerial roles, and oversaw the recruitment of highly skilled professionals to offer manpower services for onshore and offshore Oil and Gas operators, and  Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Commissioning (EPCC) contractors to work in drilling, construction, operation and maintenance, commissioning, production and decommissioning activities.

She oversaw the recruitment of professionals in major companies such as Total, CNOOC, East African Crude Oil Pipeline and their associated contractors, especially for Uganda’s oil project.

She has also worked with several other companies including being a sales representative at Honda Uganda, Vice President AIESEC Experience, General Manager- Humura Resorts and an independent Talent Management Consultant.

She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Ichec Brussels Management School, among other academic credentials.

61. Sebastien Benazet

Country Manager

SeaOwl Energy Services Uganda

Sebastien is at the centre of Seaowl Group business operations in Uganda, and building business development strategies for the company. 

SeaOwl is a major player in the recruitment of highly skilled personnel to offer manpower services in Uganda’s oil industry, most especially for oil and gas Operators, as well as Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Commissioning (EPCC) contractors. 

Sebastian’s expertise extends to prospecting for projects, developing local business networks with multinational companies and managing tenders. 

His career at Excellence Logging also enabled me to hone skills in operational, health, safety and environmental (QHSE) supervision, which are fundamental to success in the oil and gas industry. 

Sebastian’s career also spans several continents having worked as a Drilling Operations Supervisor at 45-8 ENERGY in Lyon France. 

Between 2003 and 2006, Sebastien curved his career through an apprenticeship from Halliburton, an American multinational. 

He went on to serve as a Shift Leader Mechanic at Schlumberger, Chief Mechanic- Shift Leader Mechanic at CGG, and several other roles such as Technical and Operations Support Supervisor, Field Services Supervisor, and Operations, and Country Manager at Excellence Logging where he spent seven years. 

OPINION LEADERS & INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS

62. Hon. Dr. Elly Karuhanga

Executive Director

Kampala Associated Advocates

Hon. Dr. Elly Karuhanga is a top legal mind in the oil and gas sector and has acted as legal counsel to a number of oil companies from upstream to downstream, including French super giant, Total Energies.

He’s one of the Founding and Senior Partners at Kampala Associated Advocates. He is also the Founding Chairman of the Uganda Chamber of Mines and Petroleum⏤ a not-for-profit, member-based voluntary organization that represents the interests of private players in the mining and petroleum sectors. 

His law firm has been at the forefront of the oil and gas industry and has negotiated Production Sharing Agreements, Petroleum Licenses, and the set up of oil and gas companies in Uganda.

Dr. Karuhanga is an articulate and eloquent speaker, and he has used his voice at several oil and gas summits both at national and international levels, to rally for financing and investment into Uganda’s oil projects. He’s a passionate writer on oil matters and has published several articles about national content.

Shortly, after the signing of the Final Investment Decision in 2022, Karuhanga wrote an article titled, ‘The FID – An Opportunity For Ugandan Businesses and Individuals To Reap Big From The Oil And Gas Sector.’ In the article, Karuhanga argued that the FID would unlock an ecosystem of opportunities that Ugandan companies and individuals in all industries can benefit from.

He has worked in a diplomatic capacity as Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Seychelles to Uganda since 2005. 

He holds an LLB (Hons) from Makerere University and a Post Graduate Diploma in Law from the Law Development Centre.

63. Humphrey Asiimwe

Chief Executive Officer

Uganda Chamber of Mines and Petroleum

As the Chief Executive Officer of the Uganda Chamber of Mines and Petroleum, a not-for-profit, member-based voluntary organization that represents the interests of private players in the mining and petroleum sectors, Humphrey Asiimwe is a significant contributor to the advancements of Uganda’s oil and gas sector.  

Launched in 2010, the organisation represents the interests of private sector players in the mining and petroleum sectors in Uganda by collaborating with the state to develop the country’s overall extractive sector.

It also coordinates and facilitates information sharing, advisory, and administrative support to prospective and current investors in the extractive sector.

Asiimwe assumed the role of Chief Executive last year during a period when many organizations were restructuring their operational strategies to navigate the challenges posed by the slowdown in business activity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Asiimwe’s management ethos rotates around spearheading planning, leadership development, training, and coaching.

He has facilitated several stakeholder engagements such as breakfast meetings for players in insurance, finance, engineering and construction, hospitality and tourism, quality, health, safety, and environment (QHSE), and logistics and transport sectors.

These meetings provide dedicated networking opportunities that have ultimately led to the sharing of valuable opportunities.

The meetings have culminated in actionable points between the oil and gas sector regulator, the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU), oil companies, and suppliers, especially on the challenges related to finance, legal framework, insurance policies, and more.  

In line with its stakeholder engagement strategy, the Chamber of Mines also jointly organized the first-ever National Content Conference at the end of last year together with the Petroleum Authority of Uganda in which oil sector players shared updates on their activities.  

It has also successfully spotlighted oil sector issues through the 3rd edition of 90 Days of Oil and Gas Media Campaign.

Asiimwe and the team are building on past success stories including the last 8 Oil and Gas Conventions, advocacy on policy, and legal framework to further contribute to Uganda’s effort to achieve first oil in 2025.

In April, the organization held a well-attended 9th edition of the Annual Oil and Gas Convention in Kampala under the theme; The Journey To First Oil In The Face Of Energy Transition In Uganda.

64. Emmanuel Mugarura

Chief Executive Officer

Association of Oil and Gas Service Providers

Mugarura is a former business journalist- turned-businessman and an ingenious executive,  promoting Uganda’s private sector interests in oil and gas, especially in the upstream.

He’s the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Uganda Oil and Gas Service Providers (AUGOS), an umbrella organization that brings together local service providers in the oil and gas industry.

The Association works closely with the government, oil companies, contractors and various stakeholders in the industry to create an enabling environment for local businesses to participate and thrive.

Since its formation in 2011, the association has focused on improving its capacity and standards.

In 2019, while meeting the Parliamentary Natural Resources Committee said that many local investors were not well experienced in the oil and gas business, and it inevitably affected them with larger and more experienced foreign firms having a higher competitive edge in the oil business.

Under his leadership, the association has made strides in securing business in the oil sector for local contractors.

Mugarura is also a key facilitator at several oil and gas training sessions for extractive journalists at the African Centre for Media Excellence – a non-profit media organisation.

Mugarura also runs Corporate Image, a Public and Media Relations Consultancy firm offering public relations services to the CNOOC’s KingFisher oil project in the Albertine Graben as well as other players in the sector.

65. Professor Charles Kwesiga

Executive Director

Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI) and Chairperson, Association of Uganda Oil and Gas Service Providers (AUGOS)  

An Industrial Engineer by profession, Prof. Kwesiga has significant experience as a corporate manager, management consultant, educator, and entrepreneur.

As Executive Director, he oversees the Institute’s activities including technology transfer; technology diffusion; process and product development; business incubation; contract engineering services and applied Research & Development. 

Highly regarded by his peers and other professionals, Professor Kwesiga’s other extra-curricular activities include being the Chairperson of the Association of Uganda Oil and Gas Service Providers (AUGOS), an umbrella organization that brings together local service providers in the oil and gas industry. 

The association works closely with the government, oil companies, contractors and various stakeholders in the industry to create an enabling environment for local businesses to participate. 

He also pioneered the building of the Uganda Petroleum Institute- Kigumba (UPIK), a government-owned, national center for training, research and consultancy in the field of petroleum exploration, recovery, refinement and responsible utilization in Uganda.

CIVIL SOCIETY

66. Dickens Kamugisha

Chief Executive Officer

Africa Institute for Energy Governance (AFIEGO)

Mr. Kamugisha is a lawyer, by training, with both a bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in law from Makerere University.

Kamugisha is a force to reckon with as leading international activists at the forefront of ensuring that host communities across the six districts in Uganda that have been affected by the oil refinery, Tilenga and EACOP oil projects are empowered to engage in advocacy to defend their rights.

Kamugisha has faced off with the Ugandan government filing several cases in several national and other foreign courts in pursuit of climate justice over fears that the oil projects in Uganda may cause havoc on the ecologically sensitive Albertine Graben.

He has been featured on several media stations, with the most recent being in an Aljazeera documentary titled, “A Crude Mistake? Uganda’s oil rush and the fight for climate justice.”  

His organisation has also produced several research reports on Uganda’s oil project that have been re-published by reputable media and environmental advocacy organisations across the globe.

Further, Kamugisha has been at the forefront of his organization’s efforts to ensure that women and youth are empowered to promote clean energy access in Uganda.

To date, six youth and women-led organisations empowered by AFIEGO are operating in Uganda and are involved in advocating for policies that promote clean energy access in the country.

Mr. Kamugisha also chaired the Save Bugoma Forest Campaign 2020, a campaign that galvanized Ugandans to advocate for the protection of the Bugoma forest from sugarcane growing and other human activities. 

67. Winfred Ngabiirwe

Executive Director

Global Rights Alert

Ngabirwe wields influence in the civil society space and has also contributed immensely towards policy formulation in the extractives industry.

Ngabirwe and her team work to empower resource-rich communities to participate actively in decision-making, negotiating fair benefit sharing, and fighting against human rights risks associated with natural resource exploitation and development processes.

Ngabirwe believes that whereas oil, gas and minerals sectors generate significant profits for public and private entities, these activities often have a huge negative impact on the environment and human rights with communities being affected by these operations, and quite often communities hesitate to report the violations due to these entities’ immense power and influence. It is for such reasons that Ngabirwe established the Corporate Accountability and Transparency (CAT) programme which advocates for adopting and implementing various international, regional and national initiatives for accountability within the oil, gas and minerals value chains.

The programme relies on national accountability frameworks to demand complete transparency from duty-bearers to achieve meaningful accountability. To achieve the programme’s overall goal, we collaborate with established national and accountability coalitions such as the Civil Society Coalition on Oil and Gas (CSCO) and Publish What You Pay (PWYP).

She’s also a big promoter of smart renewable technologies, which she believes can create a better society for the current and future generations.

68. Dr. Paul Bagabo

Country Senior Officer

Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI)

NRGI is a global non-profit that works to create a world where “natural resources enable fair, prosperous and sustainable societies, instead of undermining them”.

The non-profit focuses on creating informed, inclusive decision-making about natural resources and the energy transition, because “decisions about how natural resources are governed determine the wellbeing of people in resource-rich countries and of the planet”. 

In January 2024, Bagabo and Thomas Scurfield published a report titled, ‘Uganda’s Oil Refinery: Gauging the Government’s Stake’ which assesses the profitability of the refinery project.

The refinery economic modelling suggests that the refinery could be reasonably profitable suggesting that the undesirable impact on its profitability will be offset by its access to reasonably cheap crude and ability to sell its products at relatively high prices.

Before joining NRGI, Bagabo was a senior policy analyst with Uganda’s Ministry of Finance working to ensure that competitiveness was high on the government’s development agenda.

He worked on budgetary expenditure frameworks and benchmarked competitiveness constraints and performance indicators against international best practices.

Before that, he worked at the Uganda Revenue Authority, tracking the impact of tax policies on competitiveness and reforming the tax administration for enhanced economic development.

Bagabo earned a PhD and Master’s degree in Development Economics from the University of Birmingham (U.K.) and a Bachelor’s degree from Makerere University, Uganda. 

He was also a Hubert Humphrey Fellow in tax policy at Michigan State University. 

69. Jane Seruwagi Nalunga

Executive Director

Southern and Eastern Africa Trade Information and Negotiations Institute (SEATINI)

Dr. Nalunga is an expert on trade, tax and investment-related issues with a particular focus on multilateral, bilateral, regional and national trade and investment policies and agreements.

She’s a key advocate, advisor and commentator on oil and gas investment matters at public dialogues in which she has called for transparency and accountability indicating there’s the need for East African Community countries to harmonise their tax incentives, especially in the oil sector to avoid the race to the bottom.

Nalunga is renowned for her consistent calls on the government to publicise the Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs) in the oil and gas sector which remain shrouded in secrecy to the extent that the public does not know the details of these agreements that the government signed with the various Oil Companies.

She also believes local content in the oil sector links to other sectors such as Agriculture to deliver much more value to the wider economy.  

Nalunga has more than 20 years of experience in policy research, analysis and advocacy has authored a number of policy-oriented studies and articles sits on a number of national policy-making bodies; and advises government and Parliament on trade, tax and investment-related matters.

She holds an Honors Bachelor of Arts degree in History and English Language (Makerere University); a Diploma in Education from Makerere University; and a Master of Arts (M.A) in African History from the University of London.

She is also an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ACIS), and holds a number of professional certificates in various fields including trade and gender; and trade and human rights.

70. Felix Bob Ocitti

Programme Lead for Research Oil and Gas Programme

African Energy Commission of the African Union

Ocitti overseas policy development, advocacy and technical support to African Union member states. He has 14 years of experience in the oil and gas sector.

He previously served as Manager, Operations and Compliance and a Senior Geoscientist at the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) where he was instrumental in advising the Ministry on the award of licences and monitoring compliance of exploration licensees.

Before joining Petroleum Authority of Uganda, Ocitti worked in the Ministry of Energy and Minerals Development where he played a key role in reviewing and recommending for approval the field development plans for the Tilenga project.

He is a member of the African Union AMREC Working Group charged with developing and promoting the African Minerals and Energy Resources Classification and Management System (AMREC), and also a member of the United Nations Resource Management Systems (UNRMS) sub-group and member of Petroleum Working Group (PWG) under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).

Ocitti is a co-author of key international sector publications including the “Supplementary Specifications for the Application of the United Nations Framework Classification for Resources to Petroleum” and “African Minerals and Energy Resources Classification and Management System” including the “Pan-African Resource Reporting Code”.

Ocitti holds a Master’s in Petroleum Geoscience (Development & Production) from Imperial College London UK, a Master’s in Petroleum Geology (Exploration) from China University of Geoscience, LLM International Law and Policy from the University of Dundee UK and a Bachelor of Science, Industrial Chemistry from Makerere University.

71. Victoria Nalule

Founder

African Energy and Minerals Management Initiative (AEMI)

Nalule is the Founder of the African Energy and Minerals Management Initiative (AEMI).

She is also the Chief Executive Officer and lead consultant at Nalule Energy and Minerals Consultants, and a Lecturer of Energy and Natural Resources Law Lecturer at the University of Bradford, UK.

Nalule has worked on global oil, gas, extractives and energy transition projects including recently being a team leader and Principal Investigator for the Global Study on Oil and Gas Contracts Transparency and the Energy Transition (2022-2023) under commissioning from the Extractives Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) International Secretariat with support from USAID.

She has presented as a speaker and panellist in several forums and conferences discussing topics concerning oil and gas; climate change, renewable energy, mining, energy poverty and access to mention but a few.

She has also advised African governments on oil, gas and mining projects including appearing as an expert witness before the Commission of Inquiry into Land matters in Uganda; presenting comments on the South African Petroleum Bill before the country’s Policy Makers; reviewing and advising the Namibian government on their new Petroleum Bill just to mention but a few.

She’s an author and has widely published on topics relating to oil, gas, renewable energy, climate change and mining in Africa.

She has published three books on the sector, namely: “Mining and the Law in Africa: Exploring the Social and Environmental Impacts”; “Energy Transitions and the Future of the African Energy Sector: Law, Policy and Governance”; and “Energy Poverty and Access Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Role of Regionalism”.

Nalule has extensive experience in the Energy and Mining sectors having worked with various regional and international organizations including assignments for The Queen Mary University of London (EU Energy Project); The International Energy Charter Secretariat in Belgium; The Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment in New York; the East African Community Secretariat (EAC) in Tanzania; the University of Dundee in Scotland; the Southern African Development Community Secretariat (SADC) in Botswana; International Arbitration Case Law in New York (editor).

She is a holder of a PhD in International Energy Law and Policy from the Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy (CEPMLP), University of Dundee.

72. Swithern Tumwine

Executive Director

Living Earth Uganda

Living Earth Uganda (LEU) is a national non-profit that promotes awareness and skills creation in environmental, socio-economic, developmental and humanitarian programmes, to prompt communities and other stakeholders to translate the right ideas into action.

As LEU’s Executive Director, Tumwine is engaged in leading the implementation of Provision of Agricultural Support Services, a Total Energies’ funded project for the Tilenga Resettlement Action Plan in Hoima, Buliisa and Kikuube districts.

The project aims to restore and improve the livelihood of project-affected persons in the Albertine region by giving out agricultural inputs to prepare them for new seasons such as maize, beans, cassava cuttings and pasture seeds respectively.

Tumwine has also supported communities with improved post-harvest handling using locally accessible materials, such as a raised drying rack to prevent contaminants and enhance the quality of cassava produce.

Other initiatives include establishing on-farm demonstration sites to offer practical training, strategically positioned near households of Project Affected Persons (PAP), especially those in vulnerable categories.

By December 2022, over 1,000 project-affected persons had received cassava cuttings from Total Energies EP Uganda for the new planting season in Buliisa and Hoima districts with over 1,479 households targeted for the intervention.

OIL & GAS LAW & TAX EXPERTS

73. Denis Kusaasira

Managing Partner

ABMAK Associates

Kusasira holds a Master of Laws (with distinction) in Mineral Law & Policy from the Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy (CEPMLP) at the University of Dundee (Scotland-UK), and has undertaken professional training courses on the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) Contracts.

His transaction experience has been mainly in mining, oil and gas and infrastructure sectors in Uganda, advising on procurement, negotiating, and drafting contract documentation.

He has acted as lead local counsel for a consortium led by a Russian state corpora­tion on the procurement, negotiating and drafting of project agree­ments concerning a USD 4 billion refinery development project in Uganda.

He has also advised on the acquisition of mining rights and negotiation of surface rights agreements and a Mineral Develop­ment Agreement for the development and construction of a USD 620 million Steel and Phosphates project in Eastern Uganda.

Kusasira has significant experience in litigation, and dispute resolution, including international arbitration where he has advised an independent oil exploration and production company on Ugandan law aspects of a major United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) arbitration involving over USD 430 million.

74. Denis Kakembo

Managing Partner

Cristal Advocates

Kakembo has solidified his standing as a notable legal practitioner and thought leader in energy, oil and gas and tax matters, serving as a trusted professional advisor to major oil companies, subcontractors, and government agencies in Uganda and the region.

He is also a regular facilitator at oil and capacity-building events for oil companies, the Parliament of Uganda, the Judiciary, the Ministry of Finance, the Uganda Revenue Authority, civil society, and the media.

Kakembo’s oil fortunes started when he was still a law student at Makerere University. Then, he was excited by Uganda’s 2006 oil discoveries unaware that in due course, he would serve the oil and gas sector. Upon completing studies, he joined Deloitte in September 2007, in the firm’s legal and tax services line and qualified as a Chartered Accountant.

In October 2009, Kakembo’s career took a turn when Deloitte appointed global oil and gas expert Bill Page to lead the firm’s East Africa energy practice. Becoming Bill Page’s protégé, Kakembo shifted his focus significantly to serving the energy sector notably the oil and gas industry in Uganda and the region.

In 2011, recognizing Tanzania and Mozambique as promising frontiers with substantial gas discoveries, Kakembo and Bill Page relocated to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Deloitte’s request to serve the entire region from one central location.

Under Bill Page’s guidance, Kakembo extensively engaged with major oil and gas companies, subcontractors, and relevant government agencies, enhancing his reputation as a rising practitioner in the oil and gas industry.

Recognizing his growing influence, Tullow Oil awarded him a postgraduate scholarship in September 2013. He enrolled at the esteemed Centre for Energy, Petroleum, and Mineral Law and Policy at the University of Dundee in the United Kingdom, pursuing an LLM in Petroleum Taxation and Finance and graduating with distinction.

Upon returning to East Africa, he assumed an expanded role as Senior Manager and Chief of Staff for Deloitte’s Energy Practice in Nairobi serving the entire region.

He not only established a robust presence in the Kenyan energy sector but also fostered strong connections with the African Development Bank and the International Monetary Fund teams, while co-ncurrently serving as a facilitator for executive energy courses at the Strathmore University Extractive Industry Centre.

In 2018, Kakembo founded Cristal Advocates upon return to Uganda. Under his leadership, the firm has registered strong growth, gaining recognition both locally and internationally as a notable Ugandan energy and tax law firm.

During the strained relationship between the government and the oil companies between 2019 to 2021, the law firm played a pivotal role in presenting numerous policy alternatives that eventually both parties facilitated the progress of Uganda’s oil and gas project.

He is presently pursuing a Doctor of Laws degree at Makerere University.

75. Elison Karuhanga

Partner,

Kampala Associated Advocates

Elison is a trained Oil and Gas lawyer having obtained an LLM (Oil and Gas Law) from the University of Aberdeen. He works in the Litigation and Energy law department of the firm.

The department has and continues to successfully represent several local and international clients in varied sectors including oil and gas companies, telecommunications, construction, and banking, as well as public bodies and government agencies.

He was a key advisor to an upstream oil company on the establishment of its operations in Uganda, on the content of its Production Sharing Agreement and helped the company obtain an exploration licence in Uganda’s first-ever competitive licensing round.

Elison is a member of GOXI which is part of the World Bank Institutes’ Governance for Extractive Industries Program which brings together practitioners from the government, the private sector, NGOs and think tanks with the aim of strengthening governance in the extractive industries’ sector.

He has also published widely in defence of the oil and gas projects in several local and international publications and is also a host of Discourse that dissects critical extractive topics on Elon Musk’s X platform.

76. Daniel Gantungo

Partner, and Head of the Energy and Infrastructure Department

AF Mpanga Advocates

Daniel’s work involves a broad range of commercial/ corporate advisory services in energy, oil and gas, mining, mergers and acquisitions, taxation, dispute resolution and other facets of investment and business consulting for both local and international clients.

He has been a key advisor to market leaders in Uganda’s nascent oil and gas industry participating in negotiations for concessions and commenting on bills placed before parliament in this regard.

IFLR1000’s Financial and Corporate Guide rated Daniel as a Rising Star for M&A in 2018 and 2019 and as a Highly Regarded Lawyer in Uganda in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Before joining AF Mpanga, Daniel was a State Attorney in Uganda’s Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs/Attorney General’s Chamber. Daniel has also worked in the departments of Energy and Infrastructure; and Dispute Resolution of King & Wood Mallesons LLP (formerly SJ Berwin), London under the auspices of the International Lawyers for Africa (ILFA) programme. 

He has also undertaken mini-pupillage training with Keating Chambers, London.

He has an LLB from Makerere University and an LLM (Oil and Gas) from the University of Aberdeen.

77. Dickens Asiimwe Katta

Partner

Cristal Advocates

Dickens leads the Oil and Gas Practice at the firm. 

Before joining Cristal Advocates, he worked as the Company Secretary of the Uganda Refinery Holding Company Limited (URHC), a company that represents the government’s interests in the refinery project as well as managing the petro-based industrial park.

He also served as the Company Secretary of the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC), a company that represents the government’s commercial interests in Uganda’s oil and gas sector from its inception until September 2016.

He was also instrumental in UNOC’s formation and its initial period of operation where he also served as its Head of Contracts, Negotiations and Advisory until May 2018.

Prior to joining UNOC, Dickens was Legal Counsel at the Petroleum Directorate of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD) for 5 years where he was tasked with the evaluation of oil and gas and infrastructure transactions, negotiation of Production Sharing Contracts, Memoranda of Understanding (MOU’s), host government agreements and joint venture agreements. 

He was also part of the team that put together the upstream and midstream petroleum laws and the associated regulations.

Denis holds a Master of Laws – Petroleum Law and Policy – Merit – University of Dundee, UK; a Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice – Law Development Centre, Uganda; a Bachelor of Laws Degree – Makerere University, Uganda and a Certified Project Control Specialist Training (EPC) – IFP France.

78. David F.K. Mpanga

Head of Dispute Resolution

AF Mpanga Advocates 

David F.K. Mpanga is one of Uganda’s most respected lawyers. 

He is severally ranked by top legal ranking firms ⏤ Chambers and Partners, IFLR1000 and the Financial and Corporate Guide⏤ as a Highly Regarded and Bank 1 lawyer for capital markets, energy and infrastructure, banking as well as mergers and acquisitions, amongst others. 

A Barrister of the Honorable Society of the Middle Temple, David worked initially with the Chambers of Godfrey Carey QC and Jonathan Caplan QC at 5 Paper Buildings (now the Chambers of Miranda Moore KC and Julian Christopher KC) in the United Kingdom where he handled criminal litigation.

David then returned to Uganda in 1998 and worked with Mugerwa & Masembe, Advocates up to September 2003 when he founded AF Mpanga Advocates. AF Mpanga has established itself as a leading full-service corporate-commercial law firm in Uganda and the region. The law firm itself has been consistently ranked in Band 1 by Chambers and Partners, Tier 1 by IFLR1000 and as a Leading Firm by Legal 500.

David has cultivated a specialization in handling and advising on complex disputes, corporate governance, regulatory compliance and investigation.  David also advises on strategic aspects of commercial transactions.

David’s law firm has garnered extensive experience in the oil and gas sector having advised on some of the major oil and gas projects in Uganda including projects relating to petroleum legislation and regulations on behalf of the big players and government.

He has an LLB Hons from the University of Exeter and is a Barrister of the Honorable Society of the Middle Temple. 

79. Dorothy N. Kabugo

Partner, Energy, Natural Resources, Real Estate & Infrastructure

Ortus Advocates

Dorothy is a Partner in Ortus Advocates’ Corporate Commercial team. She has over 18 years of experience. 

She is highly skilled in handling commercial transactions including advising on corporate structuring, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, project finance, as well as joint operating agreements.

She has previously served as a partner at DN Kabugo Advocates and also as company secretary on several boards.

She is currently a member of the Natural Resources Audit Committee of the Ministry of Finance, Planning & Economic Development,  and a member of the Governing Council Buganda Royal Institute of Business and Technical Education (BRIBTE).

She is a Rotarian, a legal researcher and a human rights defender. She has worked with Uganda Human Rights Commission, and Foundation for Human Rights Initiative and served as a member of the Professional Development Committee at the Uganda Law Society. She is an entrepreneur, investment advisor, corporate governance specialist and a firm believer in the development of National Content.

She was an Advisor on the titling of land for the East African Crude Oil Pipeline Project in the districts of Mubende, Kakumiro, and Kyankwanzi in Uganda.

Dorothy holds a Bachelor of Law (Hons) from  Makerere University, a Diploma in Legal Practice – Law Development Centre and a Master’s Degree, LLM Oil & Gas from Uganda Christian University Mukono. 

80. Nicholas Ecimu

Partner

S&L Advocates 

Nicholas Ecimu is an established practitioner in the power and infrastructure sector (electricity, oil and gas and mining).

He is a Partner and the Head of S&L Advocates’ Projects and Infrastructure Practice of the Firm.

After serving for 8 years as a Council Member of the Uganda Chamber of Mines & Petroleum, Mr. Ecimu was recently elevated to the Board of Trustees.

In over two decades of his practice as a lawyer in Uganda, he has acted for and continues to act for many leading corporations with significant operations and or investments in the mining, oil & gas and energy sectors.

He also acts on the mandate of the world’s leading development financial institutions, governmental agencies, private infrastructure entities and project sponsors. 

He has also advised on some of the largest infrastructure projects in Uganda. 

With specific reference to oil & gas and mining, Nicholas has acted on various mandates for Joint Venture Partners with operations in Uganda.

Nicholas’ experience covers all aspects of project structuring, project development, project finance, risk advisory and regulatory engagement and support.

Nicholas also served as a member of the Mining Policy working group that was charged with revising Uganda’s Mineral Policy. 

Nicholas holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Makerere University and has professional memberships at the Uganda Law Society, and East African Law Society and is a council member- of Uganda Chambers of Mines and Petroleum.

81. Rebecca Proscovia Nambi

Partner/ Tax

Ortus Advocates 

With over 21 years of experience as a tax practitioner, Ms. Nambi has an extensive understanding of tax laws and regulations as well as practice. 

She is a Co-founder and Partner at Ortus Advocates, a leading full-service law firm in Uganda. 

She also sits on the Uganda Tax Appeals Tribunal⏤  a quasi-judicial body whose mandate is to handle tax disputes between the Uganda Revenue Authority and taxpayers. 

Before co-founding Ortus Advocates, Rebecca spent 16 years at Deloitte East Africa where she rose through the ranks to Senior Manager, Tax Services. She has also worked at Deloitte – London, United Kingdom as a Tax Learning Curriculum Manager for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Region.

Some of the most recent issues handled in the oil and gas industry include advising on the titling of land for the East African Crude Oil Pipeline Project in the districts of Mubende, Kakumiro, and Kyankwanzi in Uganda.

Her professional qualifications include a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) – from Makerere University, a postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice Law Development Centre, an Advanced Diploma in International Taxation (CIOT – UK), a MOOC Oil & Gas Certificate from the IFP School, France, a certificate in Oil & Gas Contraction – International Law Institute, Kampala, ACCA.  

82. Pamela Natamba

Tax Oil and Gas Leader

PwC Uganda 

Since July 2018, she has been a Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers and has led the Tax, Oil and Gas practice since January 2022.

In her role, she offers tax advisory services to clients across a wide range of industries including telecoms, manufacturing, financial services and energy with a speciality in oil and gas. 

She’s a council member of the Uganda Chamber of Mines and Petroleum with a focus on tax matters affecting the oil and gas sector and has been a main panellist at several oil and gas summits in Uganda.

Pamela holds academic qualifications from MaryHill High School, King’s College Budo, Makerere University, and Oxford Brookes University. 

83. Patronella Namubiru

Associate Director

Deloitte Uganda

Patronella is a lawyer by training and has spent nearly two decades in the tax profession within the East African region.

She has worked with Deloitte Uganda, for nearly 20 years now, rising from a Tax Associate in January 2005 to becoming a Tax Manager in in 2009 and then Associate Director in June 2018.

During this time, she has honed expertise in tax structuring and due diligence for mergers & acquisitions transactions and reorganizations, international tax, business tax, tax controversy & reform, regulatory compliance and advisory and immigration. 

Patronella’s main areas of specialisation include international tax, international assignment management, tax law compliance, provision of structuring advice and business consulting to clients. 

The experience she has gained in working with both private and public sector clients across different industries has enabled her to obtain invaluable insights and understanding of client’s business requirements. 

She holds a Bachelor of Laws from Makerere University and a Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre.

84. Pearl Nyakabwa

Managing Partner

Dentons Uganda 

Pearl is a Managing Partner at Kyagaba & Otatiina Advocates (Dentons Uganda). In this role, she oversees the day-to-day running of the firm and also leads the Banking & Finance and Energy practice groups in Uganda.

Her experience spans the areas of banking and finance, commercial transactions advisory, mergers & acquisitions, energy and oil & gas. She has attained extensive financial services and corporate practice experience from advising financial institutions and large corporations on significant and complex transactions.

Pearl has particular experience in oil and gas having served as in-house legal counsel on secondment at an international Oil & Gas major which is the operator of an oil and gas project in Uganda. 

Her role included advising the Company’s management on compliance with Ugandan laws and regulations such as Petroleum, Environmental and other laws, international conventions and the contractual framework governing the project. She also advised on drafting and negotiating contracts with the Government of Uganda and other key stakeholders such as sector regulators. 

She also was seconded to the legal department of the oil and gas major during negotiations of key agreements for the development of a crude oil pipeline project.

Pearl was voted Best Female Lawyer for 2015 by the Uganda Law Society.

85. Aisha Naiga

Partner

ABMAK Associates 

Naiga is a UK-trained Commercial Lawyer who has cut out a niche in energy, infrastructure, corporate finance, commercial transactions, and construction, as well as financing.

She holds a Master of Laws degree in International Commercial Law from the University of Kent (UK) and an LLB from the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. She is admitted as an Advocate and Commissioner for Oaths in Uganda and Tanzania. 

Naiga has also undertaken professional training courses on the FIDIC  construction contracts and public-private partnerships. She also holds Certificates in International Petroleum Law, and International Petroleum Business, both from the International Human Resources Development Corporation (IHRDC), Boston, USA.

She is a lead counsel on several power projects in Uganda and has acted for various hydropower companies such as ARPE Limited, the owner and operator of the largest privately owned hydropower project in Uganda (83 MW) and several other hydro projects.  

Aisha has advised the above developer during the acquisition of the project(s) / project companies, permitting/obtaining authorizations, negotiations of project documents as well as finance by Development Finance Institutions such as FMO, PROPACO DEG, BIO, EAIF (INVESTEC), OPEC and AFDB.

Aisha is recognized as a highly regarded/recommended by; IFLR 1000 Financial and Corporate Guide – Highly regarded (Uganda); Chambers Global Guide  – Highly recommended in General Business Law (Uganda).

86. Sandra Mwesigye Mago

Deputy Head of Legal & Commercial

CNOOC Uganda Limited

Sandra has over 15 years of legal practice in the private and public sectors. 

She began her legal career at Tumusiime Kabega & Co Advocates before joining the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs for 6 years. 

She later joined CNOOC Uganda Limited where she is the Deputy Head of Legal & Commercial.

In her role, she handles the oil major’s legal, compliance, commercial and land acquisition

functions. She also supervises the litigation matters against the company and provides legal advice on various project aspects.

She has participated in the successful negotiation of two production-sharing agreements with new investors in Uganda’s nascent oil industry, the negotiation of key upstream project agreements such as UNOC to support Ugandan state participation in the upstream projects as well as the negotiation of key agreements that unlocked the Final Investment Decision in 2022 signifying the commitment of the oil companies to invest close to US$ 10 billion to develop Uganda’s oil and gas resources. 

She has also supported negotiations with the refinery investors, negotiations for project financing for EACOP, negotiations with key EPC contractors delivering the required facilities to enable successful First Oil as well as support to LPG project that will help Uganda’s energy transition efforts and climate change mitigation through reducing reliance on biomass for energy. 

Sandra is a member of the Extractives Industry Transparency Initiative Uganda, an industry segment which promotes the open and accountable management of oil, gas and mineral resources.

She is an enrolled advocate with a Master’s degree in oil & gas law from the University of Aberdeen, UK, a Diploma in legal practice, and a Bachelor of law from the University of Kent, UK. 

She is a member of the Uganda Law Society, Association of International Energy Negotiators and Women in Energy and Extractives Network. 

She is passionate about promoting equality and female participation in the extractives industry.

87. Asmahaney Saad

Partner- Corporate and Commercial Dispute Resolution

KTA Advocates 

Asmahaney is an advocate, a legal consultant and an Alternative Dispute Resolution practitioner, specialised in Corporate & Commercial law, Projects and Alternative Dispute Resolution. 

Asmahaney has over 12 years of extensive experience advising local, regional and international institutions on several matters including; oil and gas, Project financing, Infrastructure development, Mining, National Content (including Joint venture structuring), Regulatory and compliance, Governance, Environment, Health and Safety, trade, investment and market entry.

Asmahaney is also a Committee member on the first ever appointed Investment Advisory Committee (IAC) that advises the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development on the Petroleum Revenue Investment Reserve fund( under the Public Finance Management Act).

She’s also a Non- Executive Director on the Board of United Bank for Africa (Uganda) Ltd, a Board Trustee to the Board of Greater Tomorrow African Initiative (GTAI) a Not for Profit Organization, Secretary General (emeritus) to the Governing Council of the East African Law Society, an accredited Chartered Mediator to the High Court of Uganda (Commercial Division) and an Associate member CIArb UK.

She has demonstrated proven capabilities from legal advisory, project management, and developing strategy to execution of solutions. She has also undertaken various leadership roles that include; board advisory, project management, partner, business development, human resource management and general business focal point lead. 

She has delivered projects and results across various competencies including; telecom, extractive (inclusive oil and gas), strategy and risk, construction, financing structures, Resettlement Action Plans and project management over the implementation of various solutions.

She is passionate about economic justice, business growth and sustainability. Her passion has seen her innovate solutions around access to economic justice and in June 2020, she won the HiiL justice innovation challenge with the Electronic Justice Solutions. 

She also provides support to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises by offering free training in business registration, governance, structures and processes that have seen her group businesses grow to the next level. 

She has published several thought leadership articles in the New Vision, East Africa Law Society newsletter and the Upstream Oil and Gas magazine on several topical areas in her area of professional speciality.

88. Christine Byarugaba

Legal Director

East African Crude Oil Pipeline 

As the Legal Director at the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), Christine is responsible for the implementation of the agreed legal framework⏤ Host Government Agreements, Shareholders Agreements and Tariff & Transportation Agreements⏤ for the EACOP between Uganda and Tanzania, as well as ensuring compliance with all applicable laws to EACOP and its activities. 

She’s also responsible for the management of the legal function to ensure the provision of high-quality, commercial and operational legal services to the EACOP Company and Project. 

As Company Secretary, she is also also responsible for the governance and administration of the EACOP Company.

89. Barbara Daisy Nabuweke

Head of Contracts and Negotiations

Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC)

Barbara describes herself on LinkedIn as an enthusiastic, multi-skilled and result-oriented lawyer who works well individually and with a team. 

She has worked both as a practising private lawyer as well as an in-house lawyer for Multinationals such as Tullow Oil and Standard Chartered Bank.

Her initial years were mainly in banking and diversified into Oil and Gas (Upstream, Midstream and downstream), energy, sustainability, project structuring and corporate governance.

In 2018, Barbara joined Uganda National Oil Company and was part of the team that negotiated agreements for the EACOP Pipeline agreements including the Host Government Agreement, the Tariff and Transportation Agreement, the Shareholders Agreements and other related agreements.

The Agreements led to the signing of the Final Investment Decision for the Upstream and the Pipeline project in Uganda in February 2021.

Barbara is currently involved in the project structuring of numerous business prospects for UNOC and in driving regulatory and contractual compliance. 

She’s also taking a keen interest in energy transition which is geared towards the use of clean energy.

Barbara holds a Master of Laws from the University of Cambridge and an LLB  from Makerere University, Kampala.

90. Kristina Kasibayo

Senior Legal Officer – Compliance

Uganda National Oil Company Limited (UNOC) 

Kristina is an experienced oil and gas practitioner with over a decade of experience in the petroleum sector with vast knowledge and experience in contract drafting and negotiation.

She also has a strong understanding of the oil and gas commercial, operational and regulatory regime; environmental impacts, and social and community issues related to resource development.

Since 2020, Kristina has been the Africa Committee Member – Country Representative for Uganda at the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN) ·Uganda.

Before assuming her role as Senior Legal Officer – Compliance at Uganda National Oil Company Limited (UNOC), she worked as an oil and gas consultant with Kampala Associated Advocates and also spent 10 years at Tullow Oil as Legal and Compliance Advisor from May 2007 to December 2017.

91. Dorothy Uzamukunda

Legal Manager

Total Energies EP Uganda 

Dorothy has over 14 years of experience in offering general tax and legal consulting and advisory with a specialist focus on international tax planning and structuring business transactions. 

She also has experience in offering company secretarial services and advising on corporate governance, business registrations (incorporating businesses and obtaining business licenses), employment law and advisory.

She amassed her experience at PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP where she served in several roles such as Senior Associate,  Manager, Tax Services, and International Assignment- Experienced tax consultant. 

92. Daniel Muzoora

Legal Counsel

Petroleum Authority of Uganda 

Muzoora is a dual-qualified legal professional – Advocate of the High Court of Uganda and Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England & Wales with demonstrated experience and a history of working in the law practice industry. 

He has extensive experience as in-house counsel, specifically Government, and law firm experience in a wide variety of disciplines with emphasis in energy and natural resources law. Skilled in agreement negotiation, legal compliance, and legal advice.

Muzoora has worked with several law firms including Associate, Synergy Solicitors and Advocates, Associate ENSafrica, and later joined the government to work as Legal Counsel at the Directorate of Petroleum- Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development.

93. Hakim Muwonge

Partner

ABMAK Associates 

Hakim is a US-trained commercial lawyer who specializes in the provision of legal advisory support, and consultancy services to energy and infrastructure projects.

He holds a Master of Laws in Energy, Natural Resources and Environment from the University of Houston. He has a good understanding of complex legal and policy issues related to energy projects.

He heads the firm’s oil and gas practice and is the lead engagement partner for the biggest licensed oil major in Uganda and EPC contractors serviced by the firm.

Hakim has advisory, transactional and consultancy work experience specializing in the provision of advisory services on: – country entry strategy and setup, regulatory compliance, oil and gas advisory, environmental regulatory compliance, movement of labour and employment regulations, immigration support services, transaction advisory, management of regulatory relations and local representation.

Hakim was a member of the advisory team for the Russian-led consortium on the procurement, negotiation and drafting of project agreements concerning the development of the refinery in Uganda. 

Hakim is often engaged as a consultant on various oil and gas projects in Uganda in both upstream and midstream operations. 

He is a former lecturer of Environmental Regulation in the oil and gas operations at Makerere University Kampala – College of Natural Sciences and is often invited to be a speaker on petroleum regulatory issues and policy at international conferences and seminars. 

94. Festus Akunobera

Partner

ABMAK Associates

Festus is an Advocate of the Courts of Judicature in Uganda and an Attorney & Counselor at Law in the State of New York.

He holds a Master of Laws in International Taxation from New York University, where he was a Hauser Global Scholar. He also holds a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) from Makerere University where he was the winner of the Chief Justice’s Prize, as the best overall student in his class.

Festus is a tax expert and is reputed for advising businesses on complex tax issues about cross-border transactions. 

He was for example a tax adviser for the Consor­tium during negotiations for a US$ 4bn refinery in Uganda. He also represented Heritage Oil & Gas in a USD 434 million litigation before the High Court of Uganda.

Festus has served as tax technical adviser for the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the Government of Liberia and the Republic of Somaliland and the Ministry of Finance of Uganda. Previously. Festus served as an international tax consultant at Price­ Waterhouse Coopers’ New York and Uganda offices.

He has occasionally been called as an expert witness on Ugandan tax law in the London Commercial Court and in the High Court of Uganda. He has also appeared pro hac vice in tax litigation before the Rwanda Commercial Court.

Festus is a lecturer of international tax law at the East African School of Taxation and has served as a guest lecturer on interna­tional tax at Duke University (North Carolina, USA) and Vienna University of Economics and Business  Administration (Vienna, Austria). 

BANKING, INSURANCE AND OTHER FINANCIAL SERVICES

95. Eva Mpalampa

Business and Commercial Banking Sector Head—Energy

Stanbic Bank Uganda

Mpalampa is an experienced business and commercial banking professional with expertise in Energy, Finance, FinTech Solutions and Product Development, with international exposure having worked in Commerzbank, London.

She has a background in accounting and is also a trained Economist holding a Master’s in International Economics from Cardiff University in the United Kingdom.

She has played a key role in supporting investments in the oil and gas industry particularly business for over 100 clients such as contractors, suppliers and partners whilst overseeing financing of their various needs.  

This is especially for the lower segment players in the industry with capacity building and financial literacy through collaboration with sister agencies like the Stanbic Incubator where over 200 Small and Medium Enterprises have been trained over 4 cohorts on best industry practices, financial literacy, and risk management.

She also contributed to Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) awareness by implementing an ESG Risk Assessment framework in the business operations of the SMEs to enable them to access funding and improve their compliance with crucial governance principles.

She contributes thought leadership articles to Industry Magazines such as The Barrell magazine to increase awareness of financial risk in the Oil & Gas Sector.

She’s an industry panelist on several industry forums and like the Uganda Chamber of Mines and Petroleum, and Petroleum Authority of Uganda Local Content Conference.

Mpalampa is also passionate about financial literacy, personal development and being part of community development initiatives. 

96. Phillip Niwamanya

Sector Head, Oil and Gas and Commercial Property Finance

Absa Bank Uganda

Niwamanya set up the Bank’s first oil and gas unit covering both corporate and business banking clients. 

As part of this set-up, he championed the re-alignment of the Bank’s risk appetite to Uganda’s unique needs and put in place coverage structures to support target clients.

He championed the financing of the first contract awarded to a Ugandan company in the oil sector without the need for collateral by collaborating with a de-risking partner in the insurance sector. This helped solve the lack of collateral challenge that was impeding access to finance in Uganda’s Nascent Oil and Gas sector.

Niwamanya is passionate about co-creating the future of financing to deliver exponential business growth and has led the financing of key transactions in the oil and gas sector that are aligned with the Bank’s Environmental, Social and Governance principles.

The financing has been provided to companies in waste management, civil works, logistics and manpower supply with over 10 companies financed and support of over USD 60m extended to the sector.

He’s also a thought leader in the industry and regularly features on panel discussions for conferences organised by key players such as the Petroleum Authority of Uganda and the Uganda Chamber of Mines and Petroleum. 

Niwamanya joined Absa Bank in 2018 as a Business Planning Manager for Corporate and Investment Banking and has since worked in different capacities as Business Planning Specialist for Corporate, Markets and Business Banking, Acting Chief of Staff and Strategy for the entire Bank. 

He has over 9 years of working experience gained from KPMG and Absa. 

He’s a Certified Chartered Accountant and a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (UK), the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU) and holds an MBA from Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University, Scotland.

He holds a First-Class Bachelor of Science Degree in Geomatics and Land Management from Makerere University. Phillip is also a graduate of the Strathmore Senior Management Development Program.

97. Nicholas Kiiza

Executive Vice President, Energy & Infrastructure

Stanbic Bank

Kiiza is a corporate banker with close to 20 years of experience in Uganda and East Africa.

He’s an expert in corporate project, and trade finance as well as credit risk and client relations management having worked with several regional and global banks.

Kiiza leads Stanbic Bank Uganda’s support to the energy and infrastructure sectors as critical pillars for Uganda’s economic growth and socio-economic transformation.

He is a firm believer in diversifying Uganda’s energy mix to ensure long-term energy security.

He is a sector thought leader who regularly speaks at various forums supporting the responsible exploitation of Uganda’s oil resources and highlighting the importance of Oil and gas in the country’s energy transition journey.

He has structured credit facilities worth USD 100 million for clients requiring financing in the upstream oil sector.

He holds a bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Makerere University, a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Birmingham and a Master of Business Administration from Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University.

98. Jonan Kisakye 

Secretary, Technical Committee

Insurance Consortium for Oil and Gas Uganda (ICOGU)

Kisakye is an experienced insurer with a demonstrated history of working in the short-term and long-term insurance markets. skilled in insurance consultancy, training, bancassurance, marketing, business development and management.

Kisakye doubles as secretary to the Insurance Consortium for Oil and Gas Uganda (ICOGU) and the Chief Executive Officer of the Uganda Insurers Association.

The Consortium is an insurance pool of companies for a specific business endeavour where the financial risk is considered too high for a single company to take on and can only be addressed through shared resources.

Kisakye plays a central role supported by a strong team in fine-tuning local insurers and building local capacity to the current developments in the oil sector and benchmarking on other evolved markets in areas of underwriting oil and gas risks, contractors All risks, re-insurance for oil and gas risks, liabilities and business interruption.

As a special purpose vehicle, the consortium only ensures medium and high risks implemented through well-constructed contracts that particularly relate to the International Oil Companies, the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) and the Refinery Consortium.

By the close of 2023, the consortium had underwritten UGX50 billion from the oil and gas sector.

99. Rikin Shah

Director- Tax

Grant Thornton Uganda

Rikin Shah has diverse work experience spanning various roles and industries. Rikin is currently working as the Director of Tax at Grant Thornton (Uganda) since December 2023.

Before this, he held positions as a Senior Manager of Tax and Tax Manager at the same company.

In 2017, Shah co-founded AES Signatum LLC, where he served as the Chief Finance Officer,  and played a crucial role in the development of a revolutionary concept called smART OF GIVING (AOG).  

He has also worked, in different finance roles, at various other entities such as Fine Spinners Uganda Limited, Appliance World Limited, Shree Balaji Group, Speke Resort & Conference Centre and Crane Bank Ltd. 

He started their professional journey as an Analyst at Citicorp Finance (India) Ltd in 2007 and later worked as a Business Analyst at Tata Consultancy Services Limited from 2006 to 2007. 

He studied at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, achieving a degree in Chartered Accountancy with a focus on Commerce and Finance. He also attended Gujarat University, where he received a Master’s in Business Administration, specialising in Finance and Business Management. 

100. Christine Mukasa- Mugerwa

Sector Head Institutional Banking

NCBA Uganda

Mukasa is an experienced banker with over 15 years of banking experience with a sound understanding of delivering value to both customers and the bank. 

She has spent 10 out of the 15 years managing clients within the Oil and Gas industry through maximizing cross-selling revenues and client profitability while providing effective client support and relationship development relating to Transaction Banking products and services.

Between 2014 and 2019, Mukasa served as a Transactional Banker- Oil and Gas/ Industrials (Corporate and Investment Banking), and between 2022 and 2024, she went on to take another full time as Sector Head: Oil and Gas/ Energy, Mining and Extractives at Equity Bank Uganda.  

Mukasa has also served in several senior banking roles such as Stanbic Bank’s Transactional Solutions Manager- Telecoms, Media and Technology (Corporate and Investment Banking), Operations Service Manager, and Account Executive.

In the early days of her banking career, she worked as the Assistant Manager, Business Support and Corporate Recoveries. 

Mukasa holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Information Systems from Rhodes University and a Masters in Business Administration from the East and Southern Management Institute, among other executive leadership coaching credentials.