The Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) has appointed Fred Kabanda as its new executive director. Kabanda will replace Michael Otonga Ochan, who will remain acting executive director until December 1, 2026.
The PAU board announced the appointment and noted that Kabanda has more than 30 years of experience in petroleum regulation, policy development, institutional leadership and extractives governance.
He currently heads the Extractives Division at the African Development Bank. In that role, he provides leadership and policy advice on oil, gas and mining development across Africa.
Kabanda previously worked at Uganda’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, where he held several technical and leadership positions. He rose to assistant commissioner and headed the Regulatory Unit in the Petroleum Exploration and Production Department.
PAU described him as one of the architects of Uganda’s petroleum policy, legal and regulatory framework. He helped develop petroleum laws and policies, including the 2008 National Oil and Gas Policy.
Kabanda also supported the transfer of petroleum regulatory functions from the Energy ministry to PAU. His other areas of experience include petroleum licensing, field development, regulatory oversight, contract negotiations and sector governance.
He holds a Master of Science in Petroleum Engineering from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology and Chemistry from Makerere University.
Kabanda has undertaken professional training in leadership, petroleum management, governance and natural resource management.
He takes over PAU as Uganda moves towards commercial oil production. The authority regulates and monitors the exploration, development and production of the country’s petroleum resources.
