[2][3] She began her political career in 1992 in support of the presidential candidacy of conservative Jaime Nebot.

In the 1994 sectional election [es], she won a seat as councilor of Guayaquil Canton for the Social Christian Party (PSC), during the mayoral administration of León Febres Cordero.

Years later, Ugarte returned to politics for the PSC, and won a seat as a member of the National Assembly representing Guayas in the 2017 legislative elections.

[6] At the end of 2018, she disenrolled from the PSC and resigned her position to participate as a candidate for the prefecture of Guayas Province for the Creating Opportunities party.

[9] In 2006, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, which led her to create the Poly Ugarte Foundation with the goal of promoting the prevention of the disease.