President Museveni has awarded the National Independence Medal to Ali Ssekatawa, director legal and corporate affairs at the Petroleum Authority of Uganda, in recognition of his contribution to Uganda’s oil and gas sector.
The award was presented during the 2026 International Labour Day celebrations held at Bishop Nkoyoyo Primary School, Matale Grounds in Buikwe District.
The National Independence Medal is among Uganda’s highest civilian honours, given to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to protecting the country’s independence and advancing national interests.
Ssekatawa was recognised for his role as part of the core technical team that negotiated and concluded the legal and commercial frameworks underpinning Uganda’s major oil projects, including Tilenga, Kingfisher, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) and the refinery.
These efforts were instrumental in Uganda reaching Final Investment Decision in 2022, unlocking an estimated $15 billion in investment.
His citation details an extensive career in petroleum law, regulation, and high-stakes negotiations. Since 2017, he has served as one of the pioneer directors of the Petroleum Authority of Uganda, contributing to its growth into one of Africa’s leading petroleum regulators.
In February 2023, the Authority was named Petroleum Regulator of the Year in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Ssekatawa has played a leading role in negotiating key agreements critical to Uganda’s oil development, including intergovernmental agreements, host government agreements, production sharing agreements, refinery agreements, and sale and purchase agreements.
He also led and participated in negotiations resulting in more than 20 commercial agreements that enabled the financial close of EACOP.
In 2025, he served as chief negotiator for the Refinery Implementation Agreement between the Government of Uganda and Alpha MBM, a major step toward establishing the country’s refinery infrastructure.
Beyond negotiations, Ssekatawa has been central in shaping Uganda’s response to international opposition to its oil projects.
He played a prominent role in countering campaigns such as Stop EACOP and responding to global pressure, including a 2022 European Union Parliament resolution opposing the pipeline.
President Museveni has previously praised Uganda’s petroleum negotiation team. In 2021, he noted their expertise in both science and economics, saying they provide critical insight into global developments in the oil sector.
Ssekatawa’s earlier career at the Uganda Revenue Authority also featured prominently in his citation. He led litigation in landmark tax disputes involving Heritage Oil and Tullow Oil, cases that secured more than $700 million for Uganda across multiple jurisdictions, including domestic courts and international arbitration forums.
Speaking after receiving the award, Ssekatawa expressed gratitude and dedicated the honour to his family.
“I am deeply humbled to stand alongside the great patriots who fought for our independence, and among the public servants who continue to protect the legacy of our forefathers,” he said.
“I dedicate this recognition to my late mother, Hajat Azaama, who, despite being illiterate, believed strongly in education as a pathway to opportunity.”
The recognition comes as Uganda’s oil and gas sector moves closer to first oil, with projects progressing steadily toward production.
Ssekatawa is widely regarded within industry circles as a key figure in the country’s petroleum regulatory framework and is expected to play a central role in its next phase.
The award underscores government’s emphasis on building national capacity to manage strategic sectors such as oil and gas, seen as critical to Uganda’s long-term economic transformation, energy security, and industrialisation.