On Tuesday, June 17, 2025, I was scrolling through X (formerly Twitter) and I saw a video of Moses Ali at the National Resistance Movement (NRM) secretariat being nominated for NRM primaries in his constituency.
Clearly, the elderly politician was feeling unwell as he was too frail to disembark from his car. He was nominated while seated in his vehicle. Previous videos have shown Moses Ali with aides assisting him to walk. Ali, who falls in the category of being a Minister-MP, is currently the second deputy prime minister of Uganda and the member of parliament for Adjumani.
On X, some social media users questioned the 86-year-old’s suitability for this role, whether he should have been nominated at all, due to his advanced age. In recent years, especially on social media, there has been hostility from the youth, directed towards older persons still occupying public office, arguing that the elderly are ‘ancestors’ who should vacate office and make way for the young.
They are probably not aware that a public servant, who has reached retirement age, can still obtain a post-retirement contract, if still deemed fit to mentally and physically hold office. A common saying goes, ‘Retired but not tired.’
Older persons have the advantage of institutional memory and a wealth of experience, which they can pass down to younger office employees, whom they can mentor and train. A case in point is Uganda’s minister of Finance, Matia Kasaija who, at 81 years old, is still able to hold office and walk unassisted.
Common decency dictates that we should respect our elders. You, who is young today, will be old tomorrow. No one is forever young. Aging is unavoidable. Discriminating against an elderly person simply because they are old is ageism. Being old is not a crime! In fact, the Bible warns in Proverbs 23:22 (RSV), ‘Do not despise your mother when she is old.’ The same applies to fathers, who are grandfathers, or even great grandfathers.
The Bible places great respect on old age in Proverbs 16: 31 (RSV), ‘A hoary (greyish white) head is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.’ Therefore, I would like to request the youths who are disrespecting their elders to discontinue this sinful practice, especially if you want to live a long life, because Exodus 20:12 (RSV) says, ‘Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God gives you.’
On Wednesday, June 18, 2025 the minister of State for Elderly Affairs, Dominic Mafwabi Gidudu, addressed a press conference at Uganda Media Centre to inform the general public that whereas World Elder Abuse Awareness day (WEAAD), is celebrated annually on the 15th of June, Uganda had postponed this commemoration and would celebrate WEAAD on Friday, June 20, 2025 at Kampala Capital City Authority.
The minister said WEAAD is intended, “To highlight and create awareness of the rights of older persons, commemorate and acknowledge their contribution towards the development of this country.”
In Uganda, an elder is a person who has attained 60 years of age. The Ugandan government wants to eliminate elder abuse and ensure older persons rights are not only promoted but protected as well. The minister stated that abuse of older persons is a global social challenge.
“Elder abuse is any form of mistreatment inflicted on older persons; it results in harm or loss of an older person,” he added.
Unfortunately, older people in Uganda have faced all manner of abuse, which ranges from sexual, domestic, psychological and financial neglect and self-neglect due to depression and a feeling of abandonment or isolation, or lack of medical care. It is not uncommon for elderly women to be accused of being witches!
Relatives (including their own children) have been the main perpetrators of elder abuse, and males tend to be more abusive. Some elderly women, who live alone in the villages, have even been raped! For example, in 2013, a 90-year-old Ugandan woman was gang raped in Nakaseke district.
Incidentally, some elders have been abused in old people’s homes abroad by their carers who mistreat them and rob them of their valuables. In conclusion, let us allow our elders to age with dignity, so they do not die in bitterness.
The writer works for Uganda Media Centre.
Thank you Josepha for defending old people from abuse. I join you in that effort. Where I live, it is a crime to discriminate against anyone based on sexual orientation, race, gender, age etc. However, we all experience cognitive decline as we age. The magnitude and speed of the decline varies from one individual to another. Although I serve in a tenured position that gives me life-long employment, at some point, I have to retire. When society gets broken, we can’t blame one section. Most folks of my age never abuse or insult elders, including politicians. We were brought up well by strong communities. The elderly should leave formal employment to young folks. The job of nurturing future generation awaits older persons. I understand scripture that you cited. However, there is also scripture that says, “Fathers (and by extension, mothers) should not provoke their children to anger but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).
While it’s wrong to abuse the elderly in public positions, they also have a duty to leave especially where there’s evidence that their stay is no longer useful to anyone! In the case of Moses Ali, continuing to draw a salary for a job he can’t do is tantamount to obtaining money by false pretence