Samantha Muhwezi Kassami, formerly the Legal head at Total Energies Uganda, commenced her tenure as Chief Operating Officer (COO) at the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) on Monday morning, April 8.
In her new role, Samantha will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of UNOC and offering strategic guidance to the organization. Departments reporting directly to her include Technical Services, National Content, Health and Safety, Supply Chain, and IT.
UNOC’s primary mandate is to manage the State’s commercial interests in the Oil and Gas industry and ensure sustainable exploitation of resources. Additionally, through the Uganda Refinery Holding Company, UNOC leads the development, operationalization, and management of Kabalega Industrial Park.
Profile:
Known in professional circles as Samantha, she is a seasoned oil and gas expert with extensive hands-on experience in the sector.
Samantha holds a Bachelor of Laws from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), along with a Postgraduate Diploma and a Master of Laws from BPP University London, UK. She is a qualified solicitor licensed to practice in England and Wales and is a member of the Law Society, London UK. Samantha’s professional journey began at Linklaters LLP, a prestigious Magic Circle law firm.
In 2016, she joined Total Energies S.E. as part of the three-person pipeline project team, leading negotiations for the oil pipeline and spearheading all facets of the project until it reached a Final Investment Decision in 2022.
UNOC hailed Samantha’s diverse technical and managerial expertise across the oil and gas spectrum, emphasizing her deep understanding of industry frameworks and processes.
Furthermore, Samantha played a pivotal role as part of the senior leadership team at Total Energies seconded to the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), contributing to its establishment as a reputable company and steering the project towards fruition.
Noteworthy among her achievements is the establishment of the EACOP Women’s Initiative, a community-led platform aimed at fostering networking and mentorship opportunities for women in the EACOP project.
