He obtained his PhD at the University of Victoria in 2018 with his thesis, From left-wing liberation army into a government: the challenges of transition and the case of TPLF/EPRDF, on the history of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front starting from their role as rebels through to their transition to and running of the government of Ethiopia.

[5] Mulugeta advised the chief mediator in peace negotiations for the War in Darfur that led to the 2006 Abuja Agreement.

[1] Mulugeta saw the TPLF/EPRDF, after taking power in Ethiopia in 1991, as being successful in initiating the creation of the institutions typical of a democratic state, including a judiciary with some degree of independence, a local and national electoral system, minority rights and a constitution.

Mulugeta saw the parliament as having rubber-stamp role in confirming new laws, the judiciary as "far from independent", and the media as "below the standard to serve as a fourth pillar of check and balance of power".

[5] In February 2020, Mulugeta argued that by the end of Hailemariam Desalegn's prime ministership, the Ethiopian political system had become a competition for domination with too little cooperation.

He saw the federal government as "fast approaching a failed state" and expressed hope that Ethiopian and international increased awareness of the depth of the crisis might lead to "key stakeholders" seeking a solution.