The Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) has appointed its Director of Finance and Corporate Services, Michael Otonga Ochan, as acting executive director following the expiry of Ernest Rubondo’s second term at the helm of the regulator.
Ochan took over the leadership of the authority on September 1, 2026, and will serve in the acting capacity until the newly appointed executive director assumes office. The Petroleum Authority board said the appointment is intended to ensure continuity in the management and operations of the institution.
In a statement, the PAU board said the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development had communicated approval of the appointment of a new executive director. However, the authority said details of the executive director-designate would be communicated in due course after the completion of the onboarding process.
“The Honourable Minister and the Board of Directors are working to finalise the onboarding of the Executive Director-designate, whose details will be communicated in due course,” the board said.
The appointment comes after Rubondo’s second term as executive director ended on August 31, 2026. Rubondo had served as the head of PAU during a period in which Uganda advanced preparations for commercial oil production and the development of related petroleum infrastructure.
The board praised Rubondo for what it described as exemplary leadership and distinguished service, saying his tenure contributed to the institutional growth of PAU and the advancement of Uganda’s petroleum sector.
“The Board takes this opportunity to express its sincere appreciation to Rubondo for his exemplary leadership and distinguished service, which contributed to the institutional growth of the PAU, and the advancement of Uganda’s petroleum sector,” the statement said.
PAU was established under the Petroleum (Exploration, Development and Production) Act to regulate and monitor petroleum activities in Uganda and ensure that the country’s petroleum resources are managed efficiently and in accordance with the law.
The authority is currently involved in regulating activities across Uganda’s emerging oil and gas industry, including developments related to the country’s planned commercial oil production.
The board said Rubondo’s departure and the appointment of an acting executive director would not affect the authority’s operations, management structures or reporting lines.
“During this period, the Authority’s operations, management structures, and reporting lines remain unchanged,” the board said.
It added that PAU would continue to exercise its full mandate to ensure effective coordination, uninterrupted service delivery and business continuity as the transition to the new executive director is completed.
The board also reassured stakeholders, industry players and the public that PAU remains committed to the efficient and effective management of Uganda’s petroleum resources for sustainable national development.
