Ex- Second Deputy Prime Minister and Veteran politician Gen. Moses Ali has died at the age of 87.
Gen. Ali passed away on Friday, bringing to an end a public service career that spanned more than five decades.
His death was announced by former NRM vice chairperson for Eastern Uganda Capt.Mike Mukula.
“It is with profound sorrow and a heavy heart that I have recieved the sad news of the passing of my dear friend , distinguished patriot, freedom fighter and statesman, Gen Moses Ali who departed this life today at 4:25pm at Nakasero Hospital,” Mukula said.
Mukula He described Gen Moses Ali as one who devoted his life to the service of Uganda .
“His controbution to the struggle for peace, national unity, stability and reconstruction will forever remain engraved in the history of our nation. He was a courageous soldier, an astute leader and an elder stateman whose wisdom, humility and unwavering committment to Uganda inspired generations of leaders and citizens alike.”
For the people of Adjumani and the broader West Nile region, General (Rtd) Moses Ali meant far more than a politician; he was affectionately known as the “Lion of Adjumani” and the “Cock of Madi”. Revered as a paramount cultural and political patriarch, he served as a unifying figure who championed regional development, infrastructure, and the protection of local interests for decades
For over 50 years in public service and 24 years as a lawmaker, Gen. Moses Ali gave the Madi people and Adjumani a powerful, influential voice at the highest echelons of the national government. He broke barriers as a top-ranking military official and Deputy Prime Minister, ensuring his home area was not sidelined in national discourse
Constituents widely credited him with lobbying for vital local infrastructure, including improvements to roads and hospitals, as well as facilitating international aid and charity projects like local water purification facilities.
He commanded immense respect across generational and political lines. Even when faced with mounting health challenges in his later years, his Adjumani West constituents overwhelmingly supported him, viewing his continued presence in power as a testament to the region’s enduring legacy and political weight
Born in 1939 in Atabo Parish, Pakele Division, Adjumani District, Moses Ali began his career as a teacher before joining the Uganda Army in 1968.
He rose rapidly through the ranks during the regime of Idi Amin, receiving military training in Israel and the United Kingdom before attaining the rank of Brigadier in 1974. During the 1970s, he held several senior government positions, including Minister of Provincial Administration, Minister of Internal Affairs, and Minister of Finance.
Following the fall of Idi Amin’s government in 1979, Ali went into exile in Sudan. In 1980, he formed and led the Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRF), a rebel group that operated mainly in the West Nile region.
In the mid-1980s, the UNRF entered into peace negotiations and eventually laid down its arms, reconciling with President Yoweri Museveni’s government in 1986.
Gen. Ali was first elected Member of Parliament for East Moyo (now Adjumani West) in 2001 and successfully retained the seat in subsequent elections. Earlier this year, he was re-elected as the Member of Parliament for Adjumani West.
He also served in President Museveni’s Cabinet in various capacities from the 1990s, holding portfolios including Minister of Tourism, Minister of Youth, Culture and Sports, Minister of Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, and Second Deputy Prime Minister. He was dropped from Cabinet earlier this year following the latest reshuffle.
Widely regarded as one of Uganda’s most influential political figures from the West Nile region, Gen. Ali earned the nickname “The Cock of West Nile” due to his political influence and was highly respected across the region.
At the time of his death, Gen. Ali had dedicated more than five decades to public service. He most recently took the oath of office in May 2026 after being re-elected as the Member of Parliament for Adjumani West.
