Rubondo Leaves a Mixed Legacy at PAU

What the report says

Ernest Rubondo is leaving the Petroleum Authority of Uganda after nearly two decades at the center of the country’s oil sector, where he served as the regulator’s first Executive Director and became closely identified with Uganda’s long path from discovery to commercial development. Nile Post says the transition is now formally underway, with the PAU board announcing that Energy and Mineral Development Minister has appointed Michael Ochan Otonga, PAU’s Director of Finance and Corporate Services, as acting Executive Director from 1 September 2026 until a permanent replacement is named.

The report describes Rubondo’s record as mixed. Supporters credit him with helping build the authority’s technical capacity and with pushing the sector forward, while critics argue that decision-making became too centralized around his office and that PAU did not always move quickly enough on strategic approvals or succession planning. The article also notes that other senior technocrats contributed to the institution’s growth, even as Rubondo remained the public face of Uganda’s petroleum program.

The change in leadership comes at a sensitive moment for Uganda’s oil industry, which still has not reached first oil despite years of development. That makes the handover important not only for PAU’s internal governance but also for how reliably the regulator can support investment, safety oversight, revenue management and national content goals. The piece suggests the new leadership will be judged on whether PAU can operate effectively without depending so heavily on one individual.