The Ugandan geologist and banker, Fred Kabanda has been appointed as the Executive Director of the Petroleum Authority of Uganda.
He succeeds longtime chief Ernest Rubondo, who retires at 75 after 10 years of two five year terms. Mr. Rubondo’s name has been synonymous with the country’s sole oilfield development, the largest onshore greenfield upstream project in Africa, in its pivotal years between 2016 and 2026.
Otonga Ochan will serve in the interim until Mr. Kabanda fully takes over on December 1, 2026, following the successful conclusion of the recruitment and onboarding process.
A trained geologist who has been the Division Manager in charge of extractive resources at the African Development Commission in Abidjan, since 2016, Kabanda is expected to superintend, from the regulatory point of view, the inauguration of the Lake Albert basinwide development, expected to reach first oil in June 2027.
“Mr. Kabanda brings extensive experience in Uganda’s petroleum sector, having served in both technical and leadership roles in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development and the African Development Bank over the last thirty (30) years”, a statement by the board of directors of the Petroleum Authority of Uganda, said.
