Kampala City, Uganda: A brewing succession battle at the country’s Electricity Regulatory (ERA) has sparked allegations of favoritism, internal power struggles, and boardroom intrigue following the authority’s decision to advertise the position of Chief Executive Officer exclusively to internal candidates.
The development comes as long-serving CEO Eng. Ziria Tibalwa Waako prepares to leave office upon the expiry of her second and final term in March 2027, setting the stage for what insiders describe as an increasingly competitive race for one of Uganda’s most influential regulatory positions.
At the centre of the controversy are claims that the recruitment process has effectively locked out highly qualified external candidates, raising questions about transparency and fairness in the search for Waako’s successor.
Sources familiar with developments within the regulator claim the CEO position was recently advertised internally, a move that has generated unease among some staff members and industry observers.
Critics argue that the decision contrasts sharply with the authority’s recruitment approach for other senior positions, including the recently advertised Director Internal Audit and Risk role, which was opened to external applicants.
“The obvious question being asked internally is why the CEO position is restricted to insiders while another senior management role is open to external competition,” a source familiar with the matter said.
Race for Waako’s Successor Intensifies
The unfolding succession contest has reportedly triggered intense lobbying among senior managers within the authority.
Several names have emerged as potential contenders for the top job, including Director Human Resources and Administration Safina Naggayi; Secretary to the Authority Steven Mwandha; Director Economic Regulation, Dr. Geofrey Okoboi; Director Technical Regulation Judith Nayiga; Director Financial Regulation, Edward Kayiwa; Director Legal Services Obiga Kania; and Director Corporate and Consumer Affairs, Julius Wandera.
While ERA has not publicly confirmed any preferred candidate, insiders claim the internal-only recruitment process has fueled speculation that the field may already be tilted toward a particular individual.
The claims remain unverified, and no official statement has been issued by the authority regarding the rationale behind the recruitment approach.
The succession debate has been further complicated by reports that ERA recently approved the creation of three additional directorates.
Sources within the regulator claim the restructuring may have been influenced by internal succession dynamics, although the authority has not publicly linked the changes to the CEO recruitment process.
Supporters of the restructuring argue that the growing complexity of Uganda’s electricity sector requires expanded management structures, while critics contend that the timing has inevitably raised questions about its broader implications.
Waako’s Legacy and Next Move
Waako, who has led ERA since 2017, is widely credited with overseeing significant regulatory reforms, electricity access initiatives, and sector expansion during a period of rapid transformation in Uganda’s energy industry.
Under her leadership, ERA has played a central role in implementing government electrification policies, licensing energy projects, and regulating electricity tariffs.
However, her tenure has not been without controversy.
One of the issues now resurfacing in succession discussions is ERA’s so-called “cooling-off” policy, which restricts employees from immediately taking up employment within entities regulated by the authority after leaving office.
The policy attracted criticism from some staff members who argued that it limited career mobility and was inconsistently applied.
Some employees have pointed to reports suggesting that Waako herself previously opposed similar restrictions before becoming CEO.
While those claims remain difficult to independently verify, they have resurfaced amid speculation that the outgoing CEO could be considering regional opportunities after leaving ERA.
Industry sources have linked her to discussions surrounding opportunities within the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP), the regional body responsible for coordinating electricity trade and power integration among Eastern African countries.
Neither Waako nor EAPP has publicly commented on the speculation.
Staff Welfare Questions Surface
The succession debate has also revived discussions about staff welfare arrangements within the authority, including vehicle loan schemes for senior management.
Sources claim senior officials have benefited from internally financed vehicle acquisition arrangements, although specific details and amounts could not be independently verified.
Some insiders have also raised questions about policies governing the disposal or retention of official vehicles upon retirement or completion of service.
The importance of the CEO position extends far beyond internal management. As Uganda’s principal electricity regulator, ERA plays a critical role in licensing generation, transmission, and distribution projects, setting tariffs, protecting consumer interests and supporting government energy policy implementation.
The authority’s decisions directly affect investors, electricity consumers, power generation companies and national development programmes.
With Uganda pursuing ambitious industrialization and energy access targets, the choice of Waako’s successor is expected to have significant implications for the future direction of the country’s electricity sector.
As the succession process gathers momentum, attention is likely to remain fixed on whether the recruitment exercise will satisfy concerns around transparency, competitiveness and institutional integrity.
ERA has not publicly addressed the claims. But for now, what was expected to be a routine leadership transition has evolved into one of the most closely watched succession battles in Uganda’s public sector.
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