The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and Nakawa Division West Member of Parliament, Joel Ssenyonyi, has paid tribute to the late former First Deputy Prime Minister and Adjumani County West Member of Parliament, Gen. (Rtd.) Moses Ali, saying political disagreements never erased his respect for the veteran statesman and the service he rendered to Uganda over several decades.
Gen. Moses Ali died at around 4:00 p.m. on Saturday at Nakasero Hospital after being admitted with unspecified ailments, according to President Yoweri Museveni.
His family said he had slipped into a coma before his death. He was 87.
Speaking during a special parliamentary sitting held on Tuesday in honour of Gen. Ali, chaired by Speaker of Parliament Jacob Marksons Oboth-Oboth, Ssenyonyi said the late general dedicated more than five decades of his life to public service, serving Uganda in different capacities as a soldier, Member of Parliament, Cabinet minister and national leader.
“The late Moses Ali was a member of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and I am a member of the National Unity Platform (NUP). I also disagreed with him and didn’t want him to run for MP when he was clearly unwell. Although we disagreed politically, I still gave him his flowers for the service that he rendered this nation over the years,” Ssenyonyi told Parliament.
“Public service is one of the noblest callings demanding sacrifice, resilience and commitment. The late Gen Moses Ali answered that calling for much of his life, and for that, he deserves our respect and gratitude.”
Ssenyonyi said Gen. Ali’s long public journey, which spanned periods of conflict, political transition, reconstruction and nation-building, provided younger leaders with valuable institutional memory about Uganda’s history.
“None of us is a permanent fixture in this world, and no position or status we hold is everlasting,” he added, urging leaders to focus on building institutions that outlive individuals.
On behalf of the Opposition, Ssenyonyi extended condolences to Gen. Ali’s family, the people of Adjumani, the Muslim community, the Nubian community and all Ugandans mourning his passing.
President Museveni also paid tribute to the veteran leader, describing him as a dedicated soldier, political figure 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.”
At the time of his death, Gen. Ali had 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.
A Life Spanning Military, Politics and Public Service
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 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 progressed steadily 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, and by 1974 had attained the rank of Brigadier during the Idi Amin administration.
Under the Amin government, Gen. Ali held 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 (NRM) came to power in 1986, Gen. Ali became one of the first major rebel leaders to sign a peace agreement with the new government.
The 1988 peace accord integrated UNRF fighters into the national army and is widely regarded as a significant step towards restoring lasting peace in the West Nile region.
He later joined the NRM government and became one of President Museveni’s closest political allies.
Over the years, he served 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.
Gen. Ali also represented Adjumani West County in Parliament for many years and retained the constituency seat in January 2026.
Beyond politics and the military, he 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 specifically 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 initiatives, water projects, mosques and assistance to vulnerable families.
He frequently described education as his greatest investment and encouraged young people to embrace learning.
Representatives from the 15 districts of West Nile are expected to gather at Paridi Stadium for a regional tribute, while the final Janaza prayer will be held at Abiricaku at 3:00 p.m., followed by burial at 4:00 p.m.
Gen. Moses Ali is survived by four wives and 30 children.
