As a young boy, he would often sit and read the newspapers to his father Surumani Rugunda, and it is these experiences at an early age that sparked his later interest in politics.
[4] As a young political activist, Rugunda was part of the Uganda People's Congress (UPC) and was said to be close to President Apollo Milton Obote.
[4] In 1985 he met with the leaders of the Ugandan National Resistance Movement (NRM) at the inn "Zum grünen Jäger" in Unterolberndorf, Austria, for a conspirative conference to elaborate a political programme for the liberated Uganda.
[1][2] He also served as Chairman of the NRM Electoral Commission, as Member of Parliament for Kabale Municipality, and as President of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
In July 2006, Rugunda led a Ugandan government negotiating team to Juba to hold peace talks with the Lord's Resistance Army.