President Museveni has paid tribute to the late Gen. (Rtd) Moses Ali, describing him as a freedom fighter, peacemaker and development champion whose legacy will continue to inspire future generations of Ugandans.
Speaking during a special parliamentary sitting convened on Tuesday to honour the former Second Deputy Prime Minister and Adjumani West Member of Parliament, President Museveni reflected on Gen. Moses Ali's role in Uganda's political and military history.
Gen. Moses Ali passed away on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at Nakasero Hospital in Kampala at the age of 87.
Before addressing Parliament, President Museveni laid a wreath on the casket of the veteran leader in the presence of Vice President Jessica Alupo, Speaker of Parliament Jacob Marksons Oboth-Oboth, members of the bereaved family and other dignitaries. He also took time to console the family.
"The late Gen. Moses Ali was a lover of freedom. I came to know this because although he had been with Idi Amin in the coup of 1971, I later heard that Moses Ali was not happy with Idi Amin killing people," President Museveni said.
The President recalled that Gen. Moses Ali's opposition to the excesses of Idi Amin's regime eventually led to his demotion and later exile following the collapse of the regime in 1979.
He said the late statesman also participated in efforts to overthrow Amin's dictatorship by working alongside other liberation forces.
"I was the first man in Uganda to oppose Idi Amin. I'm here, and I'm not dead," President Museveni said.
Reflecting on Gen. Moses Ali's contribution to peace, President Museveni said the veteran leader rejected violence and instead embraced dialogue and reconciliation during Uganda's turbulent post-1970s period, helping to lay the foundation for lasting national stability.
The President also commended Gen. Moses Ali for championing development in the West Nile sub-region, citing his role in advocating for key infrastructure projects, including the construction of tarmac roads and the extension of the national electricity grid.
He urged leaders in West Nile to preserve the late leader's legacy by focusing on household wealth creation, saying socio-economic transformation remains essential for sustainable development.
Summing up Gen. Moses Ali's legacy, President Museveni said the former minister would be remembered for three defining qualities: his commitment to freedom, his pursuit of peace through dialogue and his dedication to the socio-economic transformation of West Nile.
"I came here to tell you the positive attributes I saw in Gen. Moses Ali: number one, a freedom fighter; number two, a peacemaker; and number three, a development champion," President Museveni said.
The President extended his condolences to the bereaved family, the people of West Nile and the nation at large, praying for the eternal repose of Gen. Moses Ali's soul.
Gen. (Rtd) Moses Ali served Uganda in both military and civilian leadership for more than five decades. During his long public service career, he held several senior government positions, including Second Deputy Prime Minister, leaving behind a legacy of national service, unity and development.
