Veteran politician Gen Moses Ali has taken oath to represent Adjumani West County in the 12th parliament, extending a political career that has spanned several decades and multiple governments.
Ali, 87, was born on April 5, 1939, in Adjumani district and was the oldest member of the recently dissolved cabinet, where he served as second deputy prime minister and deputy leader of government business from 2021 to 2026.
Unlike other members of parliament who have taken their oaths at parliament’s main entrance in public ceremonies, Ali’s swearing-in was conducted in a subdued event witnessed by the clerk to parliament, Adolf Mwesige.
Due to his widely documented health challenges, Ali was reportedly driven discreetly through parliament’s basement entrance before being assisted by security aides into the chamber with minimal public attention and media presence.
Ali’s political and military career mirrors much of Uganda’s turbulent post-independence history. A trained lawyer who studied at Makerere University and later received military training in Israel and the United Kingdom, Ali rose to prominence during the Idi Amin regime, where he served as minister of Finance and later minister of Interior.
However, he later fell out with Amin’s government and fled into exile following the collapse of the regime in 1979. Ali subsequently led the Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRF), one of the rebel groups operating in West Nile, before signing a peace agreement with President Yoweri Museveni’s government in 1986 and integrating his fighters into the national army.
Over the years, he has held several senior government positions, including portfolios in tourism, trade and internal affairs, in addition to serving multiple terms as deputy prime minister.
His longevity in public service has made him one of the most influential political figures from the West Nile sub-region and a prominent link between Uganda’s liberation struggles and the current political establishment.
Ali’s swearing-in fulfills the constitutional requirement under Article 81(4) and the Fourth Schedule of the 1995 Constitution, formally enabling him to participate in the business of the 12th parliament.
Supporters describe Ali as a valuable repository of institutional memory, arguing that his experience in security, refugee affairs and northern Uganda’s development remains relevant.
Critics, however, view his continued presence in frontline politics as symbolic of Uganda’s slow pace of generational transition, particularly in a country with one of the world’s youngest populations.
Few political figures in Africa have occupied as many roles across different eras as Ali, ranging from military officer and cabinet minister to rebel commander, peace negotiator and senior statesman while remaining influential within government.
His swearing-in also sparked intense debate on social media, with discussions centering on age, health and leadership renewal in Uganda’s politics.
Supporters from Adjumani and the wider West Nile region welcomed his return to parliament, arguing that his experience and regional influence remain important for continuity and representation.
Others, however, raised concern about his visible frailty after videos and photographs from recent political activities circulated online showing him being assisted during public appearances.
Some critics questioned his ability to effectively serve another parliamentary term, while others argued that Uganda’s political system continues to rely heavily on liberation-era leaders at the expense of younger generations.
In other words, since he is falling apart and won’t make into the 12th Parliament, the Electoral Commission should request for a Supplementary Budget for a Bi-election!
For Heaven and Hell’s sake, Hon Moses Ali is/was Iddi Amin Dada (RIP) who passed away in 2003, the Arabian desert at 85. Otherwise, what do the people of Adjumani expect?
Even if Moses Ali is/was made of metal, but in Mechanics; metal/weakens rusts and at some point suffers “fatigue failure!
There was a time when such a story would make one taka a deep breath before taking it in . Not anymore ! These days , we just look on and marvel .
Even URN has caught the flu ; there is a fact hitch , you see.
Its not true that Gen. Moses Ali was trained as a lawyer in Makerere before he joined the army before getting military training in Israel and UK.
The gentleman dropped out of Old Kampala SSS and joined Uganda Army ( UA) . He was one of the junior officers who participated in that horrible Lubiri attack in 1966. He was one of the UA officers ( mostly from West Nile) who convinced Idd Amin to topple Milton Obote and take power. As Idd Amins Minister of Finance , Moses Ali was like today`s AAA- the star-maker with deep pockets.Then he become a warlord and paid a high price for that .
When he finally amended fences with SL Y.Museveni and was appointed deputy PM , he demanded two things : 1-to be promoted to a full General. 2- to become a lawyer . It so happens that he was awarded both , just like another one who was also not able to attend that wonderful ceremony at Kololo , where for the first time ever ,an army General presented the Coat Of Arms to the NEW PRESIDENT . Wow !
Betty, Moses Ali (MA) is as a mukosa kabila (in Kiswahili a stereotype for unknown tribal/ethnic origin), but a classified Nubian. Note the Madi people are generally not physiologically tall.
According to a reliable source, Moses Ali was brought/sent to school in Adjumani (Uganda) by his Sudanese father, who was apparently a brewer of a local wine (mwenge) known as Duma therefore, could afford education for his son in Uganda (Adjumani).
Just like our Problem Africa used the Rwandese refugees to shoot/organized murder his way to our State House on 25th Jan 1986, Amin used the Nubians and the Anyanya Sudanese Rebel group (Under Major Lagu) to slaughter the Acholi and Langi and shot/organized murder his way to our State House on 25th Jan 1971.
Therefore, and according to your narrative MA was the main influence behind the release from Death-raw (Tibuhaburwa’s presidential pardon) of two of Amin’s notorious henchmen: Abdallah Nassur (RIP- former Governor of Central Province) and Ali Fadul (RIP-former Governor of Northern Province)
Hello dear , you are right . Chief Moses Ali has roots outside of sovereign Uganda , just like the former Life President and other ungrateful adoptees who have abused and caused a lot of pain to their adopter .
We have an old friend of our family , His father was the late Haji Lugolobi who owned and run a Break Down business along Nabugabo street. The son has shared horrid stories about how his father`s “friends” from Uganda Army were involved in his father`s murder , a day after Lugolobi hosted them to party to celebrate his newly built mansion below Makerere hill .( you name Ali Fadul who later built a house next to the one that may have caused Lugolobi problems)
I won`t reveal those stories here ; what I can only do is to borrow one expression : The General has a “lot of skeletons in his closet”. Moses Ali has never been one of the good ones. That , probably explains why he does not want to go despite his present self. My theory is that he knows that once you are inside of the corrupt system, the system protects you ; should you leave , the system will come after you . Typical mafia mentality .
Talk about skeletons in the closet! A few days before the nomination day, the only daring candidate to contest against MA in Adjumani District, was ambushed and clobbered into comatose and spent more than two weeks in Rubaga Hospital. And as they say, the rest is history (MA was nominated unopposed, Al Anita Among in Bukediya)!
He was kicked out of Idi Amin’s regime and fled to Kenya. Amin allegedly, hit him in the face with a cigarette ash tray, during a cabinet meeting.