Eng. Ziria Tibalwa Waako

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Eng. Waako is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Electricity Regulatory Authority, a position she assumed on 23rd March 2017. Her position involves providing strategic direction to the ERA Secretariat to ensure that the organization effectively delivers on its mandate efficiently.

She possesses over 30 years of work experience in and vast knowledge of Uganda’s Electricity sub-Sector, 15 of which have been at Senior Management Level. She holds a MSc. and BSc. Electrical Engineering, both from Makerere University, and a Master of Business Administration in Leadership from Walden University, USA.

Eng. Waako is a Registered Engineer with the Uganda Institute of Professional Engineers and the National Engineers Registration Board; as well as a Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) of New York, United States of America. She was awarded the Excellent Performance Engineers Award by the National Engineers Registration Board at its 50th Anniversary celebrations in 2019. During Eng. Waako’s tenure as Chief Executive, ERA has had various National and International Recognitions and Awards.

Dr. Geofrey Okoboi

DIRECTOR ECONOMIC REGULATION

Dr. Okoboi is the Director Economic Regulation at the Electricity Regulatory Authority overseeing the electricity supply industry pricing (tariff determination), planning and research functions.

Dr. Okoboi holds a Doctorate (PhD), Masters (MA) and Bachelors (BSc) degrees in Economics from Makerere University. He has earned several certificates in utility regulation and Leadership –including the Senior Managers Leadership Program from Strathmore University and Nanyang Technological University.

Prior to joining the Authority, Dr. Okoboi worked as Research Fellow and Head of Sectoral Department at the Economic Policy Research Centre at Makerere University. Earlier, Dr. Okoboi taught Economics at Kyambogo University, was a socioeconomic researcher at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA Uganda) and had a first job in a Commercial Bank. Dr. Okoboi has published several peer reviewed papers in international journals.

CPA Edward Iruura

DIRECTOR FINANCIAL SERVICES

CPA Iruura is the Director Financial Services at the Electricity Regulatory Authority.

The Directorate is ERA’s arm that undertakes both corporate financial services and external/sub-Sectoral financial service functions; In line with the functions of the Authority as highlighted in the Electricity Act, 1999.

CPA Iruura is a Professional Accountant with over 17 years of continuous work, leadership and experience in both the private and public sectors. He has strong expertise in Financial Management Systems, Process and Compliance at a senior management level with proven experience in design, implementation and monitoring financial and administrative control systems.

CPA Iruura holds an MBA of Edinburgh Business School–Heriot Watt University Specializing in Strategic Planning. He is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA) - UK and a Member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU). He also holds a Diploma in Business Studies of Makerere University Business School.

He is a graduate of the Senior Management Leadership Program offered by Strathmore Business School – Nairobi, Kenya and Nanyang Technological University Singapore.

Before joining ERA in 2015, CPA Iruura was Finance Director/Head of Finance at ActionAid International Uganda (AAIU) for a period of 7 years, taking overall responsibility of financial management direction/leadership and guidance and ensuring AAIU’s overall strategic objectives are met within the framework of the Financial Management policies and procedures established internationally and the requirements of local and international law.

CPA Iruura also worked as Senior Accountant/Deputy Chief Finance Officer at Aga Khan Education Services; Finance Manager at American Refugees Committee; Audit Manager at TEAM & CO Certified Public Accountants; Revenue Assurance Manager at Celtel Uganda Limited and Financial Management Specialist for USAID Strengthening Decentralization in Uganda (SDU).

Harold R. Obiga

DIRECTOR LEGAL SERVICES

Mr. Obiga is the Director Legal Services at the Electricity Regulatory Authority. He is an Advocate of the High Court of Uganda and all subordinate Courts. He holds the LLM (QMUL), LLB (UDSM), ACIArb, ICSA, and PGDip Law - LDC.

Mr. Obiga has Extensive Legal Experience in the Public and Private Sectors, in particular; the Energy Sector, Banking and Finance, Telecommunications, Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), Power Infrastructure Development, Regulatory Due Diligence, Compliance and Regulatory Advisory.

His area of specialty extends to Negotiation of Power Purchase Agreements, Inter-Governmental Power Development Agreements, Cross Border Power Interconnection, Wheeling, Electrification and Energy Regulatory Matters.

He has represented ERA and the Government of Uganda in several Regulatory and Structuring processes of Energy Projects both in Uganda and East Africa.

Mr. Obiga is a Trainer of Regulators, Utilities, Financiers and Local Development Banks on Corporate and Regulatory Governance, Power Purchase Agreements, Dispute Resolution, Monitoring and Compliance, Governance, Sovereign Support and Financing of Power Projects and Regulatory Frameworks.

Mr. Julius Wandera

DIRECTOR CORPORATE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS

Mr. Wandera is responsible for Strategic Planning, Monitoring and Performance review in line with the Electricity Regulatory Authority Vision and Mission, and the Government of Uganda’s Strategic Aspirations; as well as Communication and Engagement of Stakeholders and Consumer Protection.

Prior to this appointment, Mr. Wandera served as Manager Communication in which role he was responsible for the Communication, Stakeholder Engagement and Consumer Protection functions of the Authority.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communication from Makerere University, an MBA from the Eastern and Southern African Management Institute (ESAMI), and has trained in Corporate Communication at the prestigious Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, Netherlands.

Mr. Wandera is a seasoned Communication Practitioner with over a decade of experience in Public Relations and Strategic Communication. He possesses vast knowledge and insights on the Electricity Sub-Sector. He is a Chartered Public Relations Practitioner (CPRP) courtesy of the Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa (PRISA); a Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing – UK; and a Member of the Public Relations Association of Uganda (PRAU).

During his 11 (Eleven) Years of service to the Authority, Mr. Wandera has effectively been the Mouthpiece of the Electricity Regulatory Authority. He has presided over constructive engagement with key stakeholders; instituted a framework on Consumer Protection; and utilized the Communication function for the attainment of ERA’s Strategic Objectives.

Eng. Judith Nayiga Ssengendo

DIRECTOR TECHNICAL REGULATION

Eng. Judith Nayiga is the Director Technical Regulation at the Electricity Regulatory Authority.

In this role, Eng. Nayiga is responsible for providing Leadership to the Technical Regulation Department of the Authority for the effective implementation of ERA's key functions relating to setting Performance Targets for Licensees, Monitoring and Enforcing the Licensees' Technical and Environmental Compliance with the Law and Licensing Terms and Conditions.

Eng. Nayiga holds a Master of Science Degree in Electrical Power Systems from the University of Bath, United Kingdom, and a Bachelor of Science degree (Hons) in Electrical Engineering, majoring in Power Systems from Makerere University. She holds the Energy Efficiency and Planning Diploma from Life Academy Sweden and is pursuing a Master's in Business Administration (MBA).

Eng. Judith Nayiga is a fully Registered Engineer with the Engineers Registration Board and a Corporate Member of the Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers. She has vast knowledge of Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution and over 15 years of work experience in the Electricity Supply Industry. She has served the Authority for 10 years. Before joining ERA, Eng. Nayiga had previously worked with Eskom Uganda Limited and Umeme Limited.

She is an Expert at Designing Electrical Networks and Performing Power System analyses using specialized simulation tools. She 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.

She has steered the Electricity sub-Sector Investments and developed optimized costs, led the Power Sector System Planning and Coordination Committee (SPCC) to harmonize Sector Plans, investments and simulation tools, and provided technical expertise in setting Performance Parameters for licensees.

She has represented ERA on several technical committees, including the NELSAP, which undertook the grid designs for the transmission network in the Nile Basin Region, the EAC Energy Sector Workgroup, Regional interconnections, and the Technical Committee (TC6) that reviews standards with the Uganda National Bureau of Standards. She has also carried out Tariff Reviews, developed codes, guidelines and standards, evacuation and interconnection criteria for power plants, and project monitoring and Compliance.