A petition has been filed in the Constitutional Court seeking to nullify the nomination of Second Deputy Prime Minister and incumbent Member of Parliament, Gen (Rtd) Moses Ali, as the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer for Adjumani West Constituency.
The legal action, lodged by writer and self-exiled activist Kakwenza Rukirabashaija and human rights defender Ssuuna James Kiggala, cites concerns over the 86-year-old veteran leader’s frail health and alleged inability to effectively perform parliamentary duties in the incoming 12th Parliament.
Kiiza & Mugisha Advocates represent the petitioners. The respondents include Gen Ali, the NRM, the Electoral Commission, and the Attorney General.
The petitioners argue that Gen Ali’s nomination infringes on citizens’ constitutional right to effective and accountable representation.
They claim the senior government official is physically incapable of fulfilling the demands of legislative office.
“The idea and spectacle of nominating the 1st Respondent was an embarrassing and unconstitutional act,” the petition states.
“The visibly frail, weak, and barely audible 1st Respondent could not speak, write, move unaided, or do anything normally required of a Member of Parliament.”
Court records indicate that Gen Ali was nominated on June 17, 2025, by NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson Tanga Odoi from his vehicle, reportedly due to ill health.
He was confirmed as the party’s flag bearer on July 18, 2025, after securing 8,609 votes in the primaries against Nixon Owole (4,492 votes), Moses Kibrai (1,454 votes), and Santos Gabriel Adrawa (810 votes).
The Electoral Commission officially endorsed him on October 22, 2025.
The petition contends that both the Electoral Commission and the Attorney General failed to uphold constitutional responsibilities by endorsing a candidate allegedly incapable of legislative functions.
It argues that allowing such a nomination undermines Uganda’s democratic process and deprives constituents of meaningful representation.
“The continued approval or facilitation of the 1st Respondent’s candidacy violates the constitutional duty to organize free and fair elections. Ugandans are entitled to effective, accountable, and meaningful representation, not symbolic representation,” the petition states.
The petitioners seek several declarations, including that Gen Ali’s candidacy violates Articles 1, 8A, 17, 38, and 79 of the 1995 Constitution, nullification of his nomination, halting his assumption of office, and ordering fresh elections in Adjumani West.
They also request that Parliament and the Electoral Commission establish minimum physical competency standards for all public office candidates.
In his supporting affidavit, Kiggala claims Gen Ali appeared unable to stand or speak during the nomination ceremony and attaches photographs as evidence.
He argues that allowing such a candidate to assume office would amount to “constructive disenfranchisement” of the people of Adjumani West.
The Constitutional Court has yet to set a hearing date. Gen Ali, who has previously dismissed calls to retire from politics, had not commented on the petition by press time.
