Uganda - Armour Energy's highly connected local ma

An Australian junior in the running for one of six licenses being auctioned off by Uganda’s Petroleum Exploration & Production Department (AEI 750), Armour Energy has retained the services of a very well connected local representative. Tom Buringuriza has until this coming January, when final bids are to be submitted, to prove that his contacts can help Armour even though the firm is a newcomer whose only other operation lies in Australia.

Buringuzira is a prominent figure who served until 2012 as deputy executive director of the Uganda Investment Authority. During his time in office he assisted Total, Tullow Oil and CNOOC on matters relating to how much capital gains tax they owed the authorities; some cases landed before the courts (AEI 749). He also served as head of the Uganda Chamber of Commerce. Armour Energy’s new man in Uganda is reputed to be very close to the permanent secretary at the energy ministry, Fred Kebagambe Kaliisa as well as the minster, Irene Muloni. As for Armour Energy, it is chaired by Nicolas Mather, founder of Arrow Energy which was bought out by Shell and PetroChina in 2010.