At the age of 85, Gen Moses Ali would be enjoying his retirement in the Adjumani District of Uganda. But he is the country’s Second Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Leader of Government Business in Parliament. He is also the MP representing Adjumani West in Parliament.
Gen Moses Ali, who belongs to the group of Uganda’s oldest minister ministers serving a largely youthful population, has been in Uganda’s politics for many decades. He served as Minister of Finance in Idi Amin’s reign of terror before he fell out with the military dictator.
Through his rebel group, the Uganda National Rescue Front, Moses Ali would also oppose the second Apollo Milton Obote regime. After five years of his National Resistance Army (NRA) bush war, current president Yoweri Museveni would negotiate a deal with Moses Ali. Under the deal, he has thrived as a politician, serving as an elected MP and as an appointed minister.
Although old and sometimes appearing frail in public, Gen Moses Ali has refused to quit elective politics. Uganda will go to the polls – presidential, parliamentary, local government and special interest groups – in 2026. That year, Ali will be 87 years.
If he is reelected as MP for Adjumani West, Gen Moses Ali will be 92 years old by the end of his five-year term in 2031. And the elderly politician and former rebel leader has indicated that he wants to run for reelection as Member of Parliament for the constituency he currently represents.
In the previous election (2021), Ali was the candidate for Museveni’s National Resistance Movement candidate. He garnered 10,227 votes and won the Adjumani West constituency parliamentary election.
Gen Moses Ali beat Patrick Tandrupasi of the Forum for Democratic Change who got 6,891 votes, independent candiates Santos Gabriel Adrawa who garnered 1,836 votes, Dominic Asusi Andama with 1,145 votes, Philip Irama Tolu with 934 votes, Henry Ajirika Drasiku who got 603 votes and Gasper Draga with 202 votes.
On June 26, Gen Moses Ali was in his home district of Adjumani to hand over up to 130 land titles in Kiraba Parish, launched Kiraba Community Resource Centre and commissioned KuluKulu-Zoka Community Road in Ukusijoni Sub County.
In his remarks, the elderly general and politician broached the issue of his political future as 2026 draws nearer. He reminded those who had come for the above events that only Jesus Christ died, was buried and resurrected, imagining how some people who had on several occasions claimed that he died must have been shocked to learn that he is alive and kicking.
Gen Moses Ali also reminded the people of Adjumani that Uganda holds elections every five years and that there should not be any doubt about his interest in keeping his parliamentary seat come 2026.
He told off those who are not comfortable with his decision to retain his seat to deal with it since besides it being his democratic right to run for office – there are no term and age limits on candidates’ suitability to take part in parliamentary elections – he feels he still has the energy to represent Adjumani West in Parliament.
Gen Moses Ali has previously collapsed in Parliament, appeared weak and struggling with a strange disease. This has prompted Ugandans to demand answers on his health condition and to ask President Museveni to allow the old man to retire. (See Details Here, There and Over There).
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