President Museveni has granted an official burial to the late former Second Deputy Prime Minister and Adjumani County West Member of Parliament, Gen. (Rtd.) Moses Ali.
The announcement was made by the Minister for the Presidency, Milly Babirye Babalanda, through her X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday.
She stated that the National Organising Committee (NOC) is working closely with the family of the deceased to ensure a befitting send-off for the fallen MP.
“Dear friends, I wish to inform you all that the President of the Republic of Uganda, H.E. Gen. Rtd. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, has granted an official burial to the fallen member of Parliament for Adjumani West County-Adjumani District, a distinguished patriot, elder statesman, and former 2nd Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda, Gen. (Rtd.) Hon. Moses Ali,” she wrote.
“I extend my heartfelt condolences to His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the bereaved family, the people of Adjumani, colleagues in government, and all Ugandans grieving this great loss.”
According to tentative funeral arrangements, Parliament will hold a special sitting on Monday, July 20, 2026, starting at 10:00 a.m., to pay tribute to the deceased legislator.
President Museveni also paid tribute to the veteran leader, describing him as a dedicated soldier, political leader and exemplary modern farmer whose contribution to national development would be greatly missed.
“Gen Moses Ali has provided service to his country for a long time, as a soldier and a political leader,” Museveni wrote on X.
“In the West Nile region, he provided the good example of being a big modern farmer. We shall miss greatly his contribution. May the Almighty God rest his soul in eternal peace.”
According to President Museveni, Gen. Ali died at around 4:00 p.m. on Saturday at Nakasero Hospital after being admitted with unspecified ailments.
His family said he had gone into a coma before his death.
He was 87.
At the time of his death, Gen. Ali had only recently left active government after President Museveni omitted him from the Cabinet appointed in May 2026 on medical grounds.
His son, Siraji Musa Ali, was later appointed Minister of State for Works and Transport.
Born on April 5, 1939, in Atabo Parish, Pakele Division in present-day Adjumani District, Moses Ali lost both his parents at the age of 11 and was raised by his maternal uncle, Ramadan Wani, who supported his education.
To help pay his school fees, he worked in people's gardens during his childhood.
He completed his primary education at Erepi Church of Uganda Primary School before joining Old Kampala Secondary School, where he obtained his General Certificate of Education.
He also studied the Quran at a Madarasa and later became a teacher before joining the Uganda Army in 1968.
His military career saw him rise steadily through the ranks after receiving specialised training in Israel and the United Kingdom.
He served as Officer in Charge of Training at the Uganda Paratrooper School before becoming its commander, eventually attaining the rank of Brigadier by 1974 during the Idi Amin administration.
Under the Amin government, Gen. Ali held several senior ministerial portfolios, including Finance and Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, while remaining one of the regime's influential military figures.
Following the collapse of the Amin government in 1979, he went into exile in Sudan before returning to lead the Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRF), an armed group that fought successive governments during the early 1980s.
After the National Resistance Movement took power in 1986, Gen. Ali became one of the first major rebel leaders to sign a peace agreement with the new government.
The 1988 accord integrated UNRF fighters into the national army and is widely regarded as a key step in restoring lasting peace in the West Nile region.
He subsequently joined the NRM government and became one of President Museveni's closest political allies, serving over the years as Deputy Prime Minister, First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, and senior adviser on peace, security and northern Uganda affairs.
He also represented Adjumani West County in Parliament for many years and retained the constituency seat in January 2026.
Beyond politics and the military, Gen. Ali established Esia Mixed Farm after training in modern agriculture in Britain.
His investment in farming earned him recognition as one of West Nile's leading commercial farmers, a contribution President Museveni highlighted in his tribute.
A devout Muslim, Gen. Ali often attributed his achievements to faith, discipline, honesty and hard work.
In 2024, he published The Odyssey of the Nubi: From Soldiers of the British Empire to Full Citizens in Uganda, documenting the history and contribution of Uganda's Nubian community.
The publication coincided with the launch of the Nubian Heritage and Cultural Centre in Adjumani District.
Away from public office, he supported community development through education, water projects, mosques and assistance to vulnerable families.
He frequently described education as his greatest investment and encouraged young people to embrace learning.
Gen. Ali is survived by four wives and 30 children.
