Gen. Moses Ali Dies At 87 After Decades Of Service In Uganda's Government
News Updated: 18 July 2026 19:10 EAT
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Uganda's veteran statesman and former Second Deputy Prime Minister, Gen. Moses Ali, has died at the age of 87. He passed away at approximately 4:25 p.m. on Saturday at Nakasero Hospital in Kampala, where he had been receiving treatment for several days, according to Ugandan media reports and senior government officials.
His death was confirmed by National Resistance Movement (NRM) Vice Chairman for Eastern Uganda, Capt. Mike Mukula, who described Gen. Ali as a patriot, freedom fighter and dedicated public servant. Tributes have since begun pouring in from political leaders, colleagues and supporters across Uganda.
Gen. Ali was born on April 5, 1939, in Adjumani District in Uganda's West Nile region. He rose through the ranks to become one of the country's longest-serving political and military figures, with a public service career spanning more than five decades.
He served in several senior government positions under President Yoweri Museveni, including Minister of Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Third Deputy Prime Minister, First Deputy Prime Minister and, most recently, Second Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Leader of Government Business in Parliament from 2021 until the formation of the new Cabinet in 2026.
Following Uganda's 2026 general election, President Museveni omitted Gen. Ali from the new Cabinet, ending his long ministerial career. However, he retained his seat as the Member of Parliament for Adjumani West after winning re-election to Uganda's 12th Parliament.
In May 2026, the veteran politician was sworn in as an MP, extending a parliamentary career that had made him one of Uganda's most experienced legislators and one of the country's oldest serving elected leaders.
Before joining Museveni's National Resistance Movement government, Gen. Ali served under former President Idi Amin and later led the Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRF), a rebel movement that fought the government in the early 1980s. The group later signed a peace agreement, paving the way for his return to national politics.
His political journey reflected Uganda's complex post-independence history, transitioning from military leadership to civilian politics. Over the years, he played key roles in national security, refugee affairs, disaster management and parliamentary leadership.
Reports indicate that Gen. Ali had been admitted to Nakasero Hospital earlier in the week as his health deteriorated. Family members, including relatives who travelled from within Uganda and abroad, gathered at the hospital during his final days.
His son, State Minister for Works Ali Siraj, declined to disclose details of his father's illness, while family members acknowledged that his condition had worsened in the days leading to his death.
Gen. Ali remained active in public life well into his eighties and was widely regarded as one of the last surviving members of Uganda's generation of veteran political and military leaders who shaped the country's modern history.
The Ugandan government is expected to announce official funeral arrangements and burial plans after consultations with the family. As of Saturday evening, no official programme had been released.
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FELIX MAKONA
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