Proscovia Nabbanja is shaping the trajectory of Uganda’s oil and gas sector with a mix of technical expertise and government experience.
Proscovia Nabbanja is a pioneering figure in East Africa’s energy industry. She joined the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) in November 2016 as the Chief Operating Officer for upstream operations. Before that, she was the first female technical staff member in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development’s Petroleum Exploration and Production Department, where she developed a deep understanding of Uganda’s oil resources—insights she later brought to UNOC.
The Uganda National Oil Company was set up to manage the state’s commercial interests in petroleum, spanning the entire value chain—from exploration and production to transport, refining, and distribution. Its creation followed the discovery of commercially viable reserves, to secure national control and maximise economic returns.
Her appointment came at a critical juncture, as Uganda sought to convert potential into production. In her first years, she helped align upstream operations with national objectives. By August 2019, she was named acting CEO, and two months later, she formally assumed the top job.
Since then, Proscovia Nabbanja has overseen key milestones, including moving the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) and Lake Albert development projects to the Final Investment Decision stage—an essential step toward first oil. Under her leadership, UNOC also secured an exploration licence in the Kasuruban Contract Area during Uganda’s second licensing round, marking its entry into direct exploration.
A geologist by training, the energy expert holds a BSc in Geology and Chemistry from Makerere University, an MSc in Petroleum Geoscience, and an MBA from Imperial College London. She has also completed specialised training in petroleum and energy management.
Her leadership has drawn industry recognition. In 2025, she received the African Woman in Energy Trailblazer Award from the Society of Petroleum Engineers at the Africa Technology Conference.
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