KAMPALA, UGANDA — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Tuesday led the nation in paying final tribute to the late Gen. Moses Ali during a special sitting of the Parliament of Uganda.
Museveni, officiating as chief mourner, laid a wreath on the flag-draped casket, signed the condolence book and joined legislators, government officials, military officers, family members and other mourners in honouring one of Uganda’s longest-serving military and political leaders.
The special sitting followed a motion moved by Prime Minister and Leader of Government Business Robinah Nabbanja and seconded by Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi.
Members from across the political divide described Gen. Ali as a patriot, peacebuilder and statesman whose public service spanned more than five decades.
Museveni Remembers a Freedom Fighter and Peacemaker
Delivering his tribute, President Museveni said Gen. Ali’s contribution to Uganda could be understood through three defining qualities: his love of freedom, commitment to peace and determination to promote development.
Museveni recalled that although Gen. Ali served in the government of former President Idi Amin, he became increasingly uncomfortable with the regime’s violence and brutality.
The President said Ali’s opposition to the excesses of Amin’s government demonstrated that he valued justice and freedom above political office.
Museveni also reflected on his first personal meeting with Gen. Ali in Libya in 1981, where different Ugandan liberation movements had gathered for discussions hosted by the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
He said Gen. Ali distinguished himself as a leader willing to cooperate with other liberation groups rather than compete against them.
The President further recalled that during the final stages of the liberation struggle in 1985 and 1986, fighters loyal to Gen. Ali’s Uganda National Rescue Front gradually withdrew from forces preparing to resist the National Resistance Army’s advance towards Kampala.
According to Museveni, that decision helped prevent unnecessary fighting and marked the beginning of cooperation between Gen. Ali’s movement and the National Resistance Movement.
Advocate for West Nile’s Development
Museveni remembered Gen. Ali as a persistent advocate for the development of the West Nile sub-region.
He said the late general regularly pressed the government to improve roads, extend electricity, address the welfare of military veterans and create greater economic opportunities for communities in the region.
The President noted that several of the development demands championed by Gen. Ali had produced visible results in West Nile.
Gen. Ali represented constituencies in Adjumani for several years and held numerous senior government positions, including First Deputy Prime Minister, Second Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Leader of Government Business.
He also served in several ministerial portfolios and participated in the Constituent Assembly that drafted Uganda’s 1995 Constitution.
Parliament Honours Ali’s Peacebuilding Role
Moving the motion, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja highlighted Gen. Ali’s contribution to restoring peace in northern Uganda and West Nile.
Parliament also recognised his role in the peace process that ended the Uganda National Rescue Front II insurgency and his contribution to the development of the Amnesty Act, which enabled thousands of former combatants to abandon rebellion and return to civilian life.
Seconding the motion, Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi described Gen. Ali as a leader whose life reflected Uganda’s changing political history.
Ssenyonyi said that despite their political differences, he respected Gen. Ali’s long record of public service.
He also used the sitting to call upon Uganda’s leaders and security agencies to respect constitutional rights, uphold the rule of law and comply with the requirement to present suspects before court within 48 hours.
Vice President Jessica Alupo remembered Gen. Ali as a disciplined, humble and punctual leader, while UPDF representative Lt. Gen. James Mugira praised his enduring commitment to the military and national development.
Third Deputy Prime Minister Rukia Nakadama highlighted his commitment to education, including his decision to continue studying while serving in government.
State Minister for Veteran Affairs Huda Oleru also credited him with supporting the development of the Islamic University in Uganda.
Final Journey to Adjumani
Gen. Moses Ali died at Nakasero Hospital in Kampala on Saturday, 18 July 2026, aged 87.
Following the parliamentary tribute, his remains were scheduled to be airlifted to Adjumani District for an official vigil at his ancestral home in Atabu Parish, Pakele Division.
The official burial programme is expected to conclude on Thursday, 23 July 2026, with a regional gathering at Paridi Stadium involving leaders and communities from the Madi and wider West Nile sub-regions.
Funeral prayers will then be held before Gen. Ali is laid to rest at his ancestral home.
Parliament resolved to convey its condolences to Gen. Ali’s family, the people of Adjumani and West Nile, and Uganda’s Muslim and Nubian communities.
Members observed a moment of silence before the special sitting was adjourned.
