PAU Names Acting Executive Director as Rubondo’s Second Term Ends

What the report says

The Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) has named Michael Ochan Otonga as Acting Executive Director after the end of Ernest Rubondo’s second term. According to the Nile Post report, the appointment was announced by the PAU Board through chairperson Lynda Biribonwa, with the change taking effect on September 1, 2026. Otonga currently serves as the Authority’s Director of Finance and Corporate Services.

The Board said Rubondo’s second term ended on August 31, 2026, and thanked him for his leadership and contribution to the growth of the institution and Uganda’s wider petroleum sector. The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development has already approved the appointment of a new executive director, though the Authority said the name of the designated successor will be released later.

PAU said the interim arrangement is meant to keep its work running smoothly while the transition is completed. The Board indicated that management structures and reporting lines remain in place and that operations should continue without disruption. It also said it is finalizing onboarding for the incoming executive director.

The development matters because PAU is the regulator overseeing Uganda’s petroleum sector, including efforts tied to the management of the country’s petroleum resources. The announcement signals leadership continuity at a key state institution during a planned handover, while the authority seeks to reassure industry stakeholders and the public that service delivery will not be affected.