Denis Kakembo has solidified his standing as a notable legal practitioner and thought leader in energy, oil and gas and tax matters, serving as a trusted professional advisor to major oil companies, subcontractors, and government agencies in Uganda and the region.
He is also a regular facilitator at oil and capacity-building events for oil companies, the Parliament of Uganda, the Judiciary, the Ministry of Finance, the Uganda Revenue Authority, civil society, and the media.
Kakembo’s oil fortunes started when he was still a law student at Makerere University. Then, he was excited by Uganda’s 2006 oil discoveries unaware that in due course, he would serve the oil and gas sector. Upon completing studies, he joined Deloitte in September 2007, in the firm’s legal and tax services line and qualified as a Chartered Accountant.
In October 2009, Kakembo’s career took a turn when Deloitte appointed global oil and gas expert Bill Page to lead the firm’s East Africa energy practice. Becoming Bill Page’s protégé, Kakembo shifted his focus significantly to serving the energy sector notably the oil and gas industry in Uganda and the region.
In 2011, recognizing Tanzania and Mozambique as promising frontiers with substantial gas discoveries, Kakembo and Bill Page relocated to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Deloitte’s request to serve the entire region from one central location.
Under Bill Page’s guidance, Kakembo extensively engaged with major oil and gas companies, subcontractors, and relevant government agencies, enhancing his reputation as a rising practitioner in the oil and gas industry.
Recognizing his growing influence, Tullow Oil awarded him a postgraduate scholarship in September 2013. He enrolled at the esteemed Centre for Energy, Petroleum, and Mineral Law and Policy at the University of Dundee in the United Kingdom, pursuing an LLM in Petroleum Taxation and Finance and graduating with distinction.
Ugandan enterprises urged to explore regional oil and gas opportunitiesUpon returning to East Africa, he assumed an expanded role as Senior Manager and Chief of Staff for Deloitte’s Energy Practice in Nairobi serving the entire region.
He not only established a robust presence in the Kenyan energy sector but also fostered strong connections with the African Development Bank and the International Monetary Fund teams, while co-ncurrently serving as a facilitator for executive energy courses at the Strathmore University Extractive Industry Centre.
In 2018, Kakembo founded Cristal Advocates upon return to Uganda. Under his leadership, the firm has registered strong growth, gaining recognition both locally and internationally as a notable Ugandan energy and tax law firm.
During the strained relationship between the government and the oil companies between 2019 to 2021, the law firm played a pivotal role in presenting numerous policy alternatives that eventually both parties facilitated the progress of Uganda’s oil and gas project.
He is presently pursuing a Doctor of Laws degree at Makerere University
