First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga has called on the government to address longstanding historical injustices suffered by Uganda's Nubian community, saying the death of Gen. Moses Ali should renew efforts to resolve unresolved grievances, including claims for property lost after the fall of Idi Amin's government.
Speaking during a parliamentary tribute to the late former First Deputy Prime Minister, Kadaga praised Ali for documenting the history of the Nubian people and championing their identity and recognition in Uganda.
She credited the 1995 Constitution with correcting historical injustices by recognising previously marginalised ethnic communities, including the Nubians.
"I want to thank the NRM government for the constitution-making process because it enabled Uganda to correct certain historical injustices," Kadaga said. "Among those were the Nubians."
Kadaga urged Parliament to make Ali's book on the history of the Nubian people widely available to legislators, describing it as essential reading for understanding Uganda's history.
She said the publication chronicles the origins, migration and settlement of Nubian communities and highlights their long struggle for identity and belonging.
"The feeling of having no power over one's history, no right to describe oneself, no capacity to determine one's destiny... this was the situation the Nubian people found themselves in," Kadaga said, quoting from Ali's book.
She said Ali spent years researching and documenting the history of Nubian communities from Egypt through Sudan before their eventual settlement in Uganda.
Beyond his academic work, Kadaga said Ali remained a calm and composed leader throughout his political career, even during heated parliamentary debates.
"There were very heated debates in this House, but he remained calm despite the pressure," she said. "The next day we would come back and continue our work."
Kadaga, who served alongside Ali in Cabinet and previously worked with him while she was Speaker of Parliament, described him as disciplined, punctual and respectful in government.
However, she used the tribute to highlight unresolved issues affecting the Nubian community decades after the 1979 overthrow of Idi Amin.
Kadaga said many Nubians lost property, businesses and bank accounts during the political upheaval and have never received compensation or had their assets restored.
"I am informed they are still checking on me. They still come to me asking whether it is possible to recover their accounts and get back their buses," she said.
She added that despite writing repeatedly to the Ministry of Finance on the matter, she had received no response.
Kadaga argued that while Uganda had made significant efforts to compensate Asians whose property was expropriated during the Amin era, similar attention had not been given to Nubians who also suffered losses.
"We have done a lot to restore what the Indians lost. These people also lost everything and have never recovered," she said.
She called on the government to consider measures to address the community's outstanding grievances.
Kadaga paid tribute to Ali's contribution to Uganda's political development and his advocacy for the Nubian people, saying his legacy should include renewed efforts to correct the historical injustices he spent much of his life highlighting.
Gen. Moses Ali, one of Uganda's longest-serving political leaders, died after decades in public service, including as second Deputy Prime Minister.
His death has prompted tributes from leaders across the political divide, many of whom have praised his role in national politics and his advocacy for the Nubian community.
