🔥 Irene Muloni Reloaded: Ex-Energy Minister Plots a Big Comeback in Elgon With a “Safety, Power & Progress” Agenda

NRM candidate Irene Nafuna Muloni….Photo/courtesy

BULAMBULI, Uganda — Digital Desk

Former Energy Minister Irene Nafuna Muloni is back on the political stage.

The former minister is rebranded, refocused and nominated by the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) to contest for the Elgon Constituency parliamentary seat.

Her campaign pitch? A blend of engineering precision, political grit and a promise to keep her people safe from the recurring disasters that have turned Mt. Elgon into a seasonal tragedy.

Muloni, one of Uganda’s most recognizable female technocrats, was all smiles as she received her nomination papers, waving the familiar yellow flag of the NRM.

But behind the celebrations lay a serious message: “This time,” she told supporters, “Elgon must rise — safely, smartly, and together.”

The former Woman MP for Bulambuli District is seeking to return to Parliament with what she calls a “development-first and disaster-proof” agenda.

Her campaign team says the focus is on resettling families displaced by landslides, expanding rural electrification, improving education and health facilities and empowering youth and women through enterprise programs.

Muloni said her engineering background gives her the confidence to push practical solutions — not just speeches.

“We can’t stop the rain, but we can stop it from destroying lives,” she declared. “Our people deserve homes that don’t wash away, roads that connect them to opportunity, and electricity that powers their future.”

Her four-pillar manifesto reads like a mini blue-print for Elgon’s recovery:

Safety & Resettlement: Relocating families from landslide-prone slopes to safer ground.

Power & Productivity: Expanding electrification to rural trading centers.

Health & Education: Building more schools and health facilities where they’re missing.

Youth & Women Empowerment: Using government programs to fund small businesses and skill-training hubs.

Her message seems to be resonating.

💬 Sarah Namutosi, a women’s group leader from Buginyanya, said Muloni’s record still speaks volumes:

“When she was minister, we saw electricity reach villages that had been dark for decades. She may have left office, but her work didn’t leave our lives.”

💬 Moses Wambede, a youth from Muyembe, agreed:

“Muloni gave many of us our first shot at real jobs through rural electrification projects. She believes in young people — not just in speeches, but in opportunities.”

Veteran political journalist Joseph Mauso of Eastern Eye noted that Muloni’s return could reshape the region’s race.

“Her name carries institutional weight, but her challenge will be reconnecting emotionally with the grassroots. If she balances both, she’ll be hard to beat,” Mauso said.

Muloni’s return comes at a time when the Mount Elgon sub-region is wrestling with climate-driven disasters that have left thousands displaced.

Analysts say her technocratic edge could help bridge the gap between national resources and local needs — if she can regain voter trust.

Still, the road back to Parliament won’t be a smooth climb.

In 2016, she lost her seat amid accusations of poor grassroots engagement.

Now, she insists she’s learned her lessons — spending more time in villages, markets and community meetings rather than “just in ministry corridors.”

Her campaign slogan, “Powering People, Protecting Lives,” captures both her past and present — the energy minister who once lit up homes now wants to light up hopes.

Social media has already picked up her comeback as one of the most watched stories ahead of 2026.

Supporters hail her as “Mama Elgon Reborn,” while critics question whether experience alone can outshine the rising wave of youthful challengers.

For now, Muloni seems unbothered by the noise. “This isn’t just about politics,” she said. “It’s about purpose.”

As the campaign trail heats up, all eyes are on whether Irene Muloni can turn her engineering blueprints into political traction and prove that in Uganda’s Elgon, resilience can indeed be rebuilt.

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