Prof Muhongo joined the Cabinet as minister for Energy and Minerals in May 2012 after a reshuffle that saw his scandal-hit predecessor William Ngeleja kicked out. The tough-talking newcomer entered as a technocrat reformer who was bent on showing rhetoric-loving politicians how to do it.
Macho ya wana-CCM na wananchi wengine yatakuwa yakielekezwa kwa makada wa CCM walioanguka kwenye mbio za urais na ambao wamegeukia ubunge, ambao ni pamoja na Mwigulu Nchemba (Iramba Magharibi), Lazaro Nyalandu (Singida Kaskazini) na mwanasiasa mkongwe ambaye kwa sasa ni Waziri wa Kilimo, Chakula na Ushirika, Steven Wasira.