Her father was a civil engineer and entrepreneur, who owned a construction company, and her mother was an elementary school teacher.
She studied at Mount Saint Mary's College Namagunga for both her O-Level and A-Level education.
She worked with two large law firms in Kampala, including at Muliira and Company Advocates, where she met her husband.
[6] On 12 April 2012, she was appointed as the fourth Inspector General of Government, since 1986, following in the footsteps of Augustine Ruzindana, Jotham Tumwesigye, and Faith Mwondha.
[2][3] Irene Mulyagonja is married to John Baptist Kakooza, and together are the parents of three children.