The newly appointed Board of Directors of the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) has been given a crucial task by State Minister for Energy Okaasai Sidronius Opolot to ensure that the nation starts producing oil by 2025.
This order was given on Friday during the newly elected PAU board’s inaugural meeting, which was presided over by Lynda Biribonwa. Uganda’s petroleum industry is under the control and observation of the newly appointed seven-member board, which is the third to hold this position since the PAU was established in 2015.
In the fourth quarter of 2025, the Ministry of Energy, PAU, and oil corporations have pledged to begin commercial production of oil. Nonetheless, given that Uganda found its commercial oil reserves in the Albertine region about two decades ago, questions have been raised regarding the long timescale.
In his remarks, Okaasai underlined the necessity and significance of the board’s function, saying, “First oil out. This presents a challenge. She read the Final Investment Decision (FID) to the chair. We want the oil out for the next assignment. And the new board’s assignment is this. When you deliver it, we will be pleased.”
The board headed by Dr. Jane Nambakire Mulemwa is replaced by the current board, which is presided over by Lynda Biribonwa. Dr. Mulemwa led the PAU in effectively regulating the industry and supervising important projects including the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline, the Tilenga project by TotalEnergies, and the Kingfisher project by CNOOC.
Professor Vincent Bagire, Oduka Ochan Achan Mary, Solome Galiwango, Innocent Kihika, Adrian Bukenya, Bernard Ongodia, and Lynda Biribonwa, who serves as chair, make up the new board.
