Bernard Ongodia – Principal

The principal is the chief academic and administrative officer as well as the accounting officer of the Instite in accordance with Section 83 on the Act. The Principal is assisted by a Deputy Principal. The current Principal of the Institute is Bernard Ongodia (Mr.)

A Board Member Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) and current Charperson Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Uganda (OGTAU), Bernard plays a pivotal role in the Country’s Manapower development for the Oil and Gas industry.

He was appointed the Principal of Uganda Petroleum Institute Kigumba in March 2017 bringing a vast experience from the Petroleum Exploration, Development and Production Department (PEPD) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD) where he joined as a Geophysicist in 2002; and was promoted a Senior Geophysicist in 2008, and later the Ag. Principal Geophysicist in 2017.

Notably, Benard played a key role as the Head of the National Content Unit in the Directorate of Petroleum, Project Coordinator-Skills for Oil and Gas (SOGA) Project.

He also serves as Member of the Governing Council, Uganda Technical College-Elgon.

Bernard holds a Bachelor of Science Degree (BSc.) majoring in Physics from Makerere University, Kampala (1996), Master of Science Degree in Exploration Geophysics from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom (2005) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) Oil and Gas Management from Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, United Kingdom (2015).  He also holds various diplomas and certificates in the fields of; Management, Electrical Engineering, Environment and Petroleum Geoscience obtained from the various reputable institutions in the world.
Bernard has steered the Institute to great height in the last four years establishing Quality Management System, Internationally Accredited Curricula, Approved centre for City & Guilds and Engineering Construction Industry Training Board, State-of-the art Infrastructure and Staff Capacity development.