Bugisu Leaders Push for Hon. Irene Muloni’s Return to Cabinet as Museveni Prepares New Executive Team

Political leaders, elders, and residents from the Bugisu sub-region, particularly Bulambuli District, have intensified calls for President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to appoint Hon. Eng. Dr. Irene Muloni to the next Cabinet as the Head of State begins forming a new executive team for his latest term in office.

The appeal comes amid growing national debate and speculation over the composition of the incoming Cabinet, which is expected to reflect a blend of experience, political loyalty, regional balancing, and strategic government priorities.https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSx6eqhL6/

Supporters of Muloni describe her as one of Uganda’s most experienced technocrats and politicians, arguing that her extensive background in the energy sector and public administration makes her suitable for a return to Cabinet.

Hon. Dr. Eng. Irene Nafuna Muloni is a renowned Ugandan electrical engineer, businesswoman, and politician who currently serves as a Senior Presidential Advisor to President Museveni. She previously served as Uganda’s Minister for Energy and Mineral Development from May 2011 until December 2019, becoming one of the most recognizable figures in the country’s energy transformation agenda.

During her tenure at the Ministry of Energy, Muloni oversaw key projects aimed at expanding electricity generation, transmission, and distribution across Uganda. Her supporters credit her leadership with contributing to increased rural electrification, industrial power supply expansion, and implementation of several strategic energy infrastructure projects.

Before joining Cabinet, Muloni built a long professional career within the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL), where she worked from 1986 and eventually rose to the position of Managing Director. Her technical expertise and administrative experience earned her recognition within government circles and the broader energy sector.

Muloni entered elective politics in 2011 after successfully contesting for the Bulambuli District Woman Member of Parliament seat during the 9th Parliament. Shortly afterward, President Museveni appointed her Minister for Energy and Mineral Development, replacing Hilary Onek, who had been transferred to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

She retained the ministerial portfolio following the 2016 General Elections, a move political observers at the time interpreted as a sign of confidence in her leadership and performance within the energy sector.

Although she lost her parliamentary seat in 2016 to Independent candidate Sarah Wekomba, Muloni remained influential in national politics and later regained the Bulambuli Woman MP seat in the 2021 General Elections.

Leaders from Bugisu now argue that the region deserves stronger representation in the top executive arm of government and believe Muloni’s experience, political maturity, and understanding of public administration make her one of the most suitable candidates for consideration.

Some local leaders say her return to Cabinet would not only strengthen Bugisu’s voice within government but also bring back institutional memory and technical competence at a time when Uganda continues to prioritize industrialization, energy expansion, and economic transformation.

The calls come as President Museveni is expected to announce a new Cabinet following the beginning of his fresh term in office. Under Uganda’s political tradition, the formation of a new Cabinet after presidential swearing-in is both a constitutional requirement and a strategic political exercise.

The process allows the President to assess performance among outgoing ministers while also considering broader political interests such as regional representation, gender balance, party loyalty, generational transition, and emerging political dynamics within the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).

Political analysts note that Cabinet reshuffles under President Museveni have historically combined continuity with surprise appointments, often making final predictions difficult. The President has over the years cultivated a reputation for making last-minute decisions and occasionally altering expected line-ups whenever details leak prematurely into the public domain.

Observers also believe that evolving political formations and influence networks within the ruling establishment could play a role in shaping the final Cabinet composition. Attention has particularly focused on the growing influence of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), a political pressure group associated with Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

As anticipation builds across the country, leaders from Bugisu remain hopeful that Muloni’s long record in government service, technical expertise, and political experience will earn her another opportunity to serve in the national executive.

For many in Bulambuli and the wider Bugisu sub-region, the upcoming Cabinet appointments are not only about political positions but also about ensuring regional inclusion and effective representation within the country’s top decision-making structures.