Josephine Wapakhabulo, daughter of former Speaker of Parliament, James Wapakhabulo has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Uganda National Oil Company.
Dr. Wapakhabulo holds a PhD in information science among other qualifications that have seen her out compete other applicants for the same job.
Announcing her as the best candidate, UNOC board chairman, Emmanuel Katongole said “UNOC board of Directors is confident that brings experience, energy, drive and enthusiasm to the UNOC
The NOC Board led by Quality Chemical chairman Emmanuel Katongole late last year embarked on constituting the body’s management structure and early this February, put out a notice of recruitment for several positions, notably the CEO, chief exploration manager, chief development and operations manager, legal and corporate affairs manager, human resource, and finance/administration manager.
Deadline for application of all the jobs was March 18.
Candidates interested in the CEO job, according to the notice had to possess at least a master’s degree in engineering, law, economics and finance and petroleum Geoscience. According to the PEPD Act, the CEO as the accounting officer of the body reports to the board and is responsible for daily management activities and effective management of the body.
Some of the applicants included former Tullow Oil corporate affairs director Conrad Nkutu; Assistant Commissioner for Pipelines Development in the Petroleum Directorate John Habomugisha; former Uganda Communications Commission director for consumer affairs David Ogong; Hashi Energy marketing manager Samuel Bagonza; head of Midststream Petroleum unit in Energy ministry Gerald Banaga-Baingi, and Abdul Byakagaba, formerly with government’s Petroleum Exploration and Production Department (PEPD) and currently employed by Tullow Oil.
Others are former Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets boss Edgar Agaba; former UNRA acting executive director James Okiror and Phillip Odoki, recently working with Uganda Law Reform Commission.
Others are Dozith Abeinomugisha, assistant commissioner in the Petroleum Directorate; Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) head of oil and gas unit Martin Muhangi; National Planning Authority senior planner Rogers Matte, URA commissioner for investigations Patrick Mukiibi and Dr Josephine Wapakhabulo, an IT engineer and daughter of former Parliament Speaker James Wapakhabulo. She previously worked with renowned British car-manufacturer—Rolls Royce.
However, recently the Inspector General of Government, Ms Irene Mulyagonja, commenced a preliminary inquiry into allegations that methods, influence peddling, and short-circuiting of procedures in the ongoing recruitment to fill the lucrative job positions for the composition of the Uganda National Oil Company (NOC) management.
The investigation follows an April 20 petition to the ombudsman claiming that the search process to fill the position of NOC chief executive officer is riddled with “irregularities.”
