UGANDA’S 100 OIL AND GAS LEADERS: Peter Muliisa, Chief Legal and Corporate Affairs Officer, Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC)

Peter Muliisa is a key figure at UNOC, a government-owned entity tasked with managing the State’s commercial interests in Uganda’s growing petroleum sector.

As one of the initial three employees of UNOC, Muliisa played a pivotal role in its establishment, focusing on corporate governance structures and shaping the company culture.

Under his leadership, UNOC has successfully implemented robust governance measures, consistently receives unqualified audits, and maintains a strong record of compliance.

In his role spearheading Corporate Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement, Muliisa has significantly boosted UNOC’s brand visibility and awareness. He has played a crucial role in protecting the company’s image against online attacks and misinformation.

As General Counsel, he has been actively involved in negotiating key agreements that have contributed to the development of Uganda’s oil and gas industry, leading to major investment decisions. Notably, he has served as the lead negotiator for critical agreements related to Tilenga, Kingfisher, and EACOP, which played a pivotal role in the industry’s advancement.

His responsibilities also include managing legal risks and ensuring compliance across all company processes.

Before joining UNOC, Muliisa was involved in the Heritage and Tullow arbitrations and related tax cases, resulting in Uganda collecting significant revenue from the oil and gas industry. With over 11 years of tax practice, Muliisa has demonstrated success in handling various tax cases in Ugandan courts. He is a qualified lawyer and a member of the Uganda Law Society and the East African Law Society.

His educational background includes a Bachelor of Laws degree from Makerere University, a Post-Graduate diploma in legal practice from Law Development Centre, Kampala, and a Master of Laws in Petroleum Taxation and Finance from the University of Dundee, UK.

Beyond his legal expertise, Muliisa is engaged in discussions related to environmental social and Governance (ESG) and climate change, recognizing them as key and emerging issues in today’s business landscape.