Across the globe, countries are pushing towards energy transition and sustainable energy production.
Uganda has not been exceptional and a lot has been achieved but the country continues to push towards attainment of 52 gigawatts of electricity by 2040, which has made Uganda’s energy sector a key focus area.
And behind this push are a number of women who have broken into a largely male-dominated sector.
Ruth Nankabirwa | Minister of Energy
Dr. Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu wields influence in the energy sector as Uganda’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, a position she has held since June 2021.
She holds a Master’s of Arts in Conflict Studies, and a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art, both from Makerere University.
She has been at the forefront of influencing a number of cabinet decisions on energy matters borrowing from her long leadership experience as a Minister of State in the Ministries of Agriculture, Finance, Defence, and Office of the Prime Minister, and a Government Chief Whip.
She is a passionate and result-oriented political leader and under her tenure, she has overseen the completion of key projects such as the commissioning of the country’s largest power project at Karuma, connection of the West Nile to the grid and the push for renewable use such as solar and Liquefied Petroleum Gas.
Irene Batebe | Permanent Secretary Ministry of Energy
She is a chemical or process engineer and holds a bachelors in Chemical and Process Engineering from the University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), a Master’s in Advanced Chemical Engineering majoring in Refinery Design and Operations from the University of Manchester, UK and a masters in Mechanical Engineering specializing in sustainable energy engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology – KTH, Sweden.
Having worked at the Ministry of Energy for almost two decades in the areas of energy and petroleum, Batebe remains a crucial in build Uganda’s energy sufficient and has been credited for a number of policies and action implementation including the smooth mainstreaming of Rural Electrification Agency (REA) into the Ministry of Energy, overseeing key energy projects, and negotiating Umeme’s buyout and exit.
Eng. Ziria Tibalwa Waki | Electricity Regulatory Authority chief executive officer
Since 20217, Eng. Waako has been the chief executive officer of the Electricity Regulatory Authority.
Her position involves providing strategic direction to the ERA Secretariat to ensure that the organization effectively delivers on its mandate.
She has over 30 years of experience in energy and vast knowledge about Uganda’s electricity sub-sector, 15 of which have been at senior management level.
She holds a master and bachelors of science in Electrical Engineering, both from Makerere University, and a Master of Business Administration in Leadership from Walden University, US.
She is a registered engineer with Uganda Institute of Professional Engineers and the National Engineers Registration Board and is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers of New York, US.
She has previously been recognized with the Excellent Performance Engineers Award by the National Engineers Registration Board at its 50th anniversary celebrations in 2019.
Eng Cecilia Menya Nakiranda | Commissioner Electric Power Department
She is a registered Electrical Engineer and holds a master’s of science in Electrical Engineering and Management from the University of Dundee, Arberty, Scotland, and a bachelor of science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.
She currently works as the Commissioner of Electric Power Development and acting director Energy Resources Directorate the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development.
She has over 27 years of experience in policy formulation, power systems planning, project planning, coordination and supervision as well as procurement.
Agnes Nalwanga | Umeme chief commercial officer
She has more than 20 years of experience in the electricity sub- sector, 12 of which have been with Umeme.
She has worked in various managerial roles including area manager, retail services manager and regional manager.
She holds a bachelor’s in Commerce (Marketing), a master’s in economic policy and management from Makerere University, and a master’s in Business Administration from Assam Don Bosco University, India.
Florence Namatta Mawejje | Umeme board member
Irene Mwoyogwona: Beyond the Numbers – How Pride Bank's Award-Winning CFO Combines Profitability and Social Impact
She holds a master of science in Human Resource Development from Manchester University UK and an Executive MBA-Strategic Management, from ESAMI/ Maastricht, The Netherlands.
She is a member of the Board of Directors and a member of the Environment, Safety and Governance Committee.
She has a wealth of experience in energy and has been instrumental in advising on corporate governance, managerial administration and people management.
Annicent Busingye | Frontier Energy Chief Executive Officer Uganda
While Frontier Energy Africa is investing in the whole Africa, Busingye serves as the CEO of Frontier Energy for the Ugandan Portfolio Companies, working closely with the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development.
Frontier Energy Africa had made capital injection in more than 60 firms involved in renewable energy projects in hydro, geothermal, wind and solar PV in Africa with a total capacity of more than 1,100 MW and total project costs of more than USD 2.5 billion.
She began her career at Stanbic Bank in 2004 serving in various roles including, project implementation officer, transactions risk officer and customer liaison officer.
In 2008, she joined Tronder Power Limited, a Norwegian firm involved in the construction of mini hydro power plants across western Uganda, where she grew in ranks from being a project accountant to managing director.
In 2015, she joined Maji Power Limited, another firm in hydro power projects, where she served as the operations director.
She is a Certified Chartered Accountant and holds a B.sc in Mathematics and Chemistry from Makerere University, an MBA from Herriot Watt University, and a post Graduate Diploma in Taxation. Annicent has taken trainings in Power Purchase Agreements, Hydropower Development and Management, Risk management in HydroPower development, Hydro Power and the Environment at the International Center for Hydro Power in Norway.
Eng Proscovia Margaret Njuki | UEGCL chairperson
Eng Njuki holds a bachelor of science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Nairobi.
She previously worked in the Department of Uganda Television for 28 years and is currently a serving director on the boards of Multi-Konsults, Mildmay Uganda, and Greenhill Academy.
She has served on the Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited board for 10 ten years, six of which have been as the chairperson.
Eng Judith Nayiga Ssengendo | Electricity Regulatory Authority director technical
Her work involves providing leadership to the technical regulation department of the Authority for the effective implementation of key functions relating to setting performance targets for licensees, monitoring and enforcing the licensees’ technical and environmental compliance.
She holds a master of science in Electrical Power Systems from the University of Bath, UK and a bachelor of science in Electrical Engineering, majoring in Power Systems from Makerere University.
She also holds Energy Efficiency and Planning Diploma from Life Academy, Sweden and is pursuing a Master’s in Business Administration.
She has more than 15 years of experience in electricity supply and has previously worked with Eskom Uganda and Umeme.
She is an expert at designing electrical networks and performing power system and has led the review and implementation of initiatives that have resulted in technical loss reduction, load growth and grid access, quality of power and reliability improvement, among others.
Joan Mutiibwa | Rural Electrification assistant commissioner
She is a professional Electrical Engineer with more than 15 years of experience in energy policy, project management, construction of electricity power lines, human resources and financial management.
She holds a Masters in Electrical Engineering from the University of Nottingham in England which she attained in 2004 and a Bsc in Electrical Engineering from Makerere University.
She is a registered Engineer with the Engineers Registration Board and a corporate member of the Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers.
She has previously served as a principal project engineer with Rural Electrification Agency and was part of senior project engineers that supervised the implemented of a project that delivered over 5,200 kilometres of medium and low voltage lines, benefiting over 200,000 households, mainly in rural Uganda.
Before joining Rural Electrification Agency, she worked with the Ministry of Energy and she has over time delivered a number of projects including the $135 million Energy for Rural Transformation Project (ERT III), eight rural electrification projects co-funded by Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, Saudi Fund for Development and Government of Uganda.
