Dr. Fred Kabagambe-Kaliisa is a Petroleum Geologist and a Mining Geologist as well as Certified Regulation Specialist in the Electricity Industry. He is the patron Of Hastings Business Training- Uganda .Formerly he was the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development in the Government of Uganda from 1997 up to 2016 when he retired, having worked for the Government of Uganda for 40 years and 6 months. Recently he was the President of Society of Petroleum Engineers, Uganda Chapter. Currently Dr Fred Kabagambe-Kaliisa is the Senior Presidential Adviser on Oil&Gas and the Mineral Industry; Uganda and Chairman of Bunyoro- Kitara Kingdom Royal Commission; and Chairperson of Hoima Catholic Diocese Task Force for the development of St Mary's Specialized Children and Women's Hospital.
Dr. Fred Kabagambe–Kaliisa obtained his Bachelor of Science (Hons) Degree in Geology and Chemistry from Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda in 1976; a post-graduate Diploma in Mineral Exploration from the University of Mining and Metallurgy in Leoben, Austria in 1980; a Master of Science Degree in Petroleum Geology from the University of Aberdeen in the United Kingdom in 1987; Studied Management and Economics at Duke University, USA in 1992 and is a Certified Regulation Specialist of the Institute of Public Private Partnership ( USA)and Loughborough University(UK).
The United Graduate College and Seminary International of Tennessee, USA awarded Dr. Kabagambe-Kaliisa The Honorary Degree of Doctorate of Philosophy in Humanities in November, 2014
As Permanent Secretary, his main tasks were to promote the development of Uganda’s energy, oil & gas, and mineral resources and ensure sustainable exploitation of the resources. Dr. Kabagambe-Kaliisa has therefore been active in the formulation of key energy, oil & gas, and mineral sector policies, legislation and investment programs; and negotiations of agreements and contracts, all of which have helped to create a conducive environment for investment in Uganda's energy, oil and gas, and mineral sectors.
Dr. Kabagambe-Kaliisa was a key designer and implementer of Uganda’s successful Petroleum Exploration Promotion Program, and the Rural Electrification Strategy and Plan as well as the plan for the supply of adequate power to the country in the short, medium and long term, and the mineral investment promotion program. He was the lead negotiator of nine (9) Production Sharing Agreements for Petroleum Exploration, Development and Production; four of which led to the discovery of twenty one (21) oilfields in Uganda with an asset base of over 6.5 billion barrels of oil in place with a Direct Foreign Investment US$ 3.6 billion since 1998. Before his retirement as Permanent Secretary, he led the Government Team which promoted the development of the crude oil Refinery in Kabaale, Hoima District and packaged and supervised the development the crude oil export pipeline from Kabaale (Hoima District) to Tanga in Tanzania; the construction of large hydropower projects (Karuma, Isimba and Ayago), the development of Sukulu Phosphate deposit and the formation of the Petroleum Authority of Uganda and the National Oil Company as well as the formulation of the new Mineral Policy and Mining Legislation.
During his term as Permanent Secretary, Kabagambe-Kaliisa led professional teams in Uganda which designed and formulated The Rural Electrification Strategy and Plan, 2013 – 2022; The Petroleum (Exploration, Development and Production) Bill, 2012; The Petroleum (Refining, Gas Procession and Conversion, Transportation and Storage) Bill, 2012; The National Oil and Gas Policy for Uganda, 2008; Uganda’s Renewable Energy Policy, 2007; The Energy Policy for Uganda 2002; The Mineral Policy of Uganda 2001; The Rural Electrification Strategy and Plan (2001 – 2010); The Electricity Act, 1999; The Mining Act, 2003; and The Petroleum Supply Act, 2003 of Uganda.
Dr. Kabagambe-Kaliisa is an accomplished entrepreneur. He is the Chairman of Miika Estates Limited, a private company dealing in real estates, tree planting, agriculture and agro processing business including seed multiplication and processing. He is the Chairman of Miika Eco Resort Hotel (MEREHO) based in Hoima in the Albertine Graben Area, a Hotel which offers ensuite deluxe rooms in individually designed modern cottages set in well manicured gardens. Dr. Kabagambe-Kaliisa is also Chairman of Albertine Purified Drinking Water Company.