The camp of Uganda’s Second Deputy Prime Minister and Adjumani West Constituency Member of Parliament, Gen Moses Ali, has scoffed at critics urging him to step down from elective politics.
Officials from the camp said Gen Ali is up to the task of being elected to Parliament to complete several uncompleted tasks for his electorate.
Since making headlines on June 17 after being nominated from inside his car to contest in the National Resistance Movement (NRM) primaries scheduled for tomorrow, the 86-year-old has been a subject of discussion over his apparent age and health complications, with many in the public wondering what he still wants in politics.
Immediately after nomination, Gen Ali hit the ground running to canvas for support, including throwing a thanksgiving ceremony last week on Thursday during which he attempted to pull off some dance moves to display physical strength.
Mr Gabu Amacha, Gen Moses Ali’s political assistant and chairperson of his campaign task force, told Daily Monitor that contrary to what the public thinks, his boss is fit and is seeking re-election to represent the people of Adjumani.
“He is the longest-serving minister in the history of Uganda. He first joined Cabinet in 1973 as the minister for Provincial Administration and subsequently held various portfolios including that of Finance; Youth; Culture and Sports; Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities; Trade and Industry; Internal Affairs; Relief, Disaster Preparedness, and Refugees, among others,” Mr Amacha said, adding: “His service in government spans from 1968 when he joined the Uganda Army as a cadet officer and rose up to the rank of a four-star General.”
Mr Amacha discounted concern over Gen Ali’s health on the basis of his long career as a military officer and politician. On his to-do-list once re-elected, Mr Gabu cited ensuring that Adjumani Town Council attains municipality status, several infrastructure projects, including local government roads and health facilities, and strengthening the implementation of government programmes. Gen Ali has won all but one (2006) parliamentary races between 2001 and 2021.
His camp maintains that this upcoming election for the term 2026 to 2031 is his last. However, during several campaign stops, Gen Ali has not appeared in person—represented by his campaign task force—or has addressed the electorate through his political assistant.
Several residents of Adjumani have expressed mixed reactions about the 86-year-old seeking re-election in the NRM primary race with four contenders. The race is tight between Gen Ali and the former district LC5 chairperson Nixon Owole.
Others in the race are Santos Adrawa and Moses Kibrai. Mr Abdul Amanya, a resident of Adjumani, said: “It’s on record that he has been helping the people of Madi Sub-region. His experience will greatly help to transform our region. ” However, Ms Margret Joan, another resident, said: “He is now old , so we need him to rest at home as a hero other than stressing himself; better still, the government can give him a political appointment without being an MP.”
Who is Gen Moses Ali?
Gen Moses Ali, born on April 5, 1939, is a key figure in Uganda’s military and political spheres. He joined the army at a young age, receiving advanced training in Israel and the UK, and rose swiftly through the ranks—from 2nd Lieutenant in 1969 to Brigadier by 1974.
He served under Idi Amin as mMinister of Interior and later Finance but fell out with the regime and lost his military privileges.
After Amin’s fall in 1979, Ali went into exile and later led the Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRF) rebel group during the 1980s. In 1986, he reconciled with President Museveni, integrating his fighters into the national army and earning the rank of Major General. He was promoted to Lieutenant General in 2003 and to General in 2012.
