Gen. (Rtd) Moses Ali, one of Uganda’s longest-serving military commanders, politicians and former deputy prime minister, has died at the age of 87, according to family members at Nakasero Hospital.
A daughter of the deceased, who requested anonymity because she is not authorised to speak on behalf of the family, said the veteran statesman died at about 4:25 p.m today Saturday.
She said family members were gathering at the hospital to finalise arrangements before an official announcement is made. A source in the Office of the Prime Minister also confirmed the death, saying Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja is expected to announce it officially on behalf of the government.
Former Health minister and Soroti Municipality MP Capt. Mike Mukula also confirmed Ali’s death in a condolence message posted on his X account. Earlier on Friday, several of Ali’s children, including those who had travelled from abroad, gathered at Nakasero Hospital for a closed-door family meeting after his admission earlier this week.
Ali leaves behind one of the most remarkable and complex legacies in Uganda’s political and military history. Over a career spanning more than five decades, he served under successive governments, led a rebel movement, negotiated peace and later returned to become one of Uganda’s longest-serving Cabinet ministers.
Born on April 5, 1939, in Meliaderi village in present-day Adjumani district, Ali joined the Uganda Army in the 1960s and steadily rose through the ranks.
Following the 1971 military coup that brought Idi Amin to power, he became one of Amin’s senior military commanders and served in several ministerial positions, including minister of Provincial Administration (Interior) and minister of Finance.
After the fall of the Amin government in 1979, Ali fled into exile before emerging as leader of the Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRF), a rebel movement that fought the second Milton Obote government in the West Nile region.
Following peace negotiations with President Yoweri Museveni’s government after 1986, the UNRF was integrated into the National Resistance Army (NRA), now the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF). Ali was subsequently commissioned as a Major General, marking the beginning of a new chapter in national politics.
Over the following decades, he held several senior Cabinet portfolios, including minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, minister of Youth, Culture and Sports, minister of Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Third Deputy Prime Minister, First Deputy Prime Minister and, most recently, Second Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Leader of Government Business in Parliament until 2026.
His military career also progressed, with promotions to Lieutenant General in 2003 and full General in 2012. He later retired from active military service while remaining active in elective politics.
Ali is widely credited with playing a key role in restoring peace in the West Nile region through negotiations that led to the integration of former rebels into the national army and helped bring an end to the insurgency.
Throughout Uganda’s transition from military rule to constitutional governance, he remained an influential political figure. He represented East Moyo County before later serving as member of parliament for Adjumani West County.
In the 2026 general elections, Ali retained the Adjumani West parliamentary seat on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket. However, President Museveni did not reappoint him to Cabinet after the elections, bringing to an end more than five decades of service in successive governments. His son, Ali Siraj, was subsequently appointed minister of State for Works.
Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced after the family and government issue an official statement.