PAU POWER VACUUM CRISIS! Rubondo Exits Oil Regulator , Top Job Remains Hanging As Power Struggle Swirls
Ernest Rubondo has stepped down as the Executive Director of Uganda's Petroleum Authority after completing his maximum two terms. The government has appointed Otonga Ochan as acting director while the search for a permanent successor continues, sparking concerns over leadership continuity during a critical phase for the nation's oil industry.
Why it matters
Leadership stability at the petroleum regulator is vital for Uganda as it transitions from oil project development to commercial production.
Uganda’s petroleum regulator has been thrown into a leadership transition as Ernest Rubondo, the pioneer Executive Director of the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU), exits the top office after completing his maximum two terms.
Rubondo’s contract expired on August 31, 2026, ending nearly a decade at the helm of the authority at a particularly sensitive time when Uganda is racing towards first oil.
But while his departure had been anticipated, the failure to appoint his substantive replacement before his exit has sparked questions over the recruitment and selection process at the oil regulator.
For now, the PAU directorate has reportedly turned to Otonga Ochan, the Authority’s Director of Finance, to steer the institution in an acting capacity as Government works to settle on a substantive Executive Director.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development Irene Pauline Batebe confirmed that the transition is already underway.
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