Irene Muloni

{{Infobox person

| image = Muloni Irene Nafuna.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Muloni in 2018

| name = Irene Muloni

| birth_date =

| birth_place = {{Birth date and age|1960|11|18|df=yes}}

| alma_mater = Makerere University
{{small|(Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering)}}
Capella University
{{small|(Master of Business Administration)}}

| occupation = Electrical Engineer & Politician

| years_active = 1986–present

| nationality = Ugandan

| citizenship = Uganda

| known_for = Politics

| networth =

}}

Irene Nafuna Muloni is a Ugandan electrical engineer, businesswoman and politician and also a Senior Presidential Advisor to Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

She was previously Cabinet Minister for Energy and Minerals in the Ugandan Cabinet until December 2019, serving from 27 May 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1170806/-/c0y8sbz/-/index.html|title=Full of List of Ugandan Ministers Appointed by President Museveni |accessdate=14 June 2016 |date=28 May 2011 |newspaper=Daily Monitor| location=Kampala |author=Monitor Team}}

She retained her position in the new cabinet after the 2016 national elections.{{cite web|title=Museveni's new cabinet list At 6 June 2016|url=http://www.monitor.co.ug/blob/view/-/3235304/data/1345443/-/3o16hn/-/Museveni%2527s+cabinet.pdf|accessdate=14 June 2016|newspaper=Daily Monitor|date=6 June 2016|location=Kampala|author=Uganda State House|archive-date=7 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007121926/http://www.monitor.co.ug/blob/view/-/3235304/data/1345443/-/3o16hn/-/Museveni%27s+cabinet.pdf|url-status=dead}} She served as the elected Member of Parliament for Bulambuli District Women's Representative, from 2011 until 2016 when she lost her seat to Independent candidate; Sarah Wekomba.

She again regained her seat after the 2021 general elections.{{Cite web|title=H.E. Irene Nafuna Muloni {{!}} Vienna Energy Forum|url=https://www.viennaenergyforum.org/content/he-irene-nafuna-muloni|access-date=2021-04-11|website=www.viennaenergyforum.org|archive-date=11 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411093836/https://www.viennaenergyforum.org/content/he-irene-nafuna-muloni|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|title=Muloni back to lead Bulambuli, NRM party wins big in Tororo|url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/special-reports/elections/muloni-back-to-lead-bulambuli-nrm-party-wins-big-in-tororo--3261662|access-date=2021-04-11|website=Daily Monitor|date=19 January 2021 |language=en}}

Background and education

She was born on 18 November 1960, in what is known today, as Bulambuli District. She attended Budadiri Girls' Primary School before entering Gayaza High School.{{cite web|accessdate=14 June 2016|url=http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1008952/muloni-budadiri-village-girl-minister|title=Muloni: From A Budadiri Village Girl to A Minister |newspaper=New Vision |date=1 July 2011|location=Kampala| first=Vicky|last=Wandawa}} In 1982, she entered Makerere University, the oldest university in East Africa, to study Engineering. In 1986, she graduated with an honours Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSc.E.Eng) degree. Later, she graduated with the degree of Master of Business Administration (MBA), from Capella University in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. She is also a Certified Public-Private Partnership Specialist, accredited by The Institute for Public-Private Partnerships, Inc. (IP3) and the Water, Engineering and Development Centre (WEDC) of Loughborough University.

Career

Since 1986 Irene has been working with the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL), a Ugandan parastatal company, responsible for distribution of electrical power to both commercial and retail customers nationwide and Uganda Posts & Telecommunications Corporation first Pupil Engineer in 1986 for (UPTC), as an Executive Engineers for same,as the Communications Engineer in 1991 then as Senior Communications Engineer in 1995 then as Senior Protection Engineer then after the managing director of Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited.{{Cite web|title=Parliament of Uganda|url=https://www.parliament.go.ug/mp_database/profile.php?mid=443|access-date=2021-04-11|website=www.parliament.go.ug}}{{Cite web |last=Nathan |first=Etengu |date=2004-03-29 |title=UEDCL Boss Sued Over Land |url=https://www.newvision.co.ug/articledetails/undefined |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=New Vision |language=en}} In 2011, she entered elective politics, by successfully contesting for the Bulambuli District Women's Representative in the 9th Ugandan Parliament (2011–2016).{{cite web|newspaper=Daily Monitor|url=http://www.monitor.co.ug/blob/view/-/1163512/data/261485/-/whfr4wz/-/parliament.pdf|title=Members-Elect of The 9th Ugandan Parliament|date=March 2011|accessdate=19 May 2014|location=Kampala|author=Monitor Team|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221341/http://www.monitor.co.ug/blob/view/-/1163512/data/261485/-/whfr4wz/-/parliament.pdf|url-status=dead}} On 27 May 2011, she was appointed Minister of Energy & Minerals, by President Yoweri Museveni. She replaced Hilary Onek, who was appointed Minister of Internal Affairs. In the cabinet changes made on 6 June 2016, she maintained her cabinet appointment.{{cite web|accessdate=14 June 2016 | url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/314964607/New-Cabinet |title=Uganda's New Cabinet As At 6 June 2016 |date=6 June 2016 | publisher=Scribd.com |author=Uganda State House}}