Veteran legislator and Second Deputy Prime Minister, Gen Moses Ali, has officially been nominated to contest in the upcoming NRM party primaries for Adjumani West County. The 86-year-old political icon, however, sparked concern after he remained inside his vehicle throughout the nomination process, appearing visibly weak and struggling to breathe.
The nomination exercise took place on Tuesday at the NRM Electoral Commission offices in Kampala. In a rare and solemn scene, Dr. Tanga Odoi, the NRM Electoral Commission Chairman, personally walked to Gen Ali’s grey Prado to receive the nomination documents. He returned to his office to endorse them before coming back to declare the retired General duly nominated.
Gen Ali, who did not address the media or step out of his car, made no public remarks. His frail appearance has ignited public debate over his health and capacity to campaign effectively, especially with the party primaries scheduled for next month.
Born in 1939 in Adjumani District, Moses Ali is among Uganda’s longest-serving politicians. He first rose to national prominence during Idi Amin’s regime, where he served as Finance Minister. Later, he led the Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRF) in the early 1980s before reconciling with President Museveni’s National Resistance Movement. Since then, he has held senior positions in Parliament, Cabinet, and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), where he holds the rank of General.
Currently the Member of Parliament for Adjumani West—a seat he has held since 2011—Gen Ali maintains a strong support base in West Nile, particularly among the Madi community, who see him as a father figure and protector of their interests.
While many of his loyal supporters praise his unwavering commitment to the party and community, younger voters have voiced concerns about the wisdom of fielding a candidate whose health seems to be in serious decline.
Although there have been internal discussions within the NRM about encouraging his retirement, party insiders say the General insisted on running again, and out of respect for his legacy, no one moved to oppose him.
The NRM leadership has yet to comment officially on his condition or whether logistical support will be provided for his campaign. It remains unclear whether he will travel to Adjumani to meet voters face-to-face or rely entirely on proxies.
For now, Gen Moses Ali’s name is confirmed on the ballot—making him one of the oldest active politicians in Uganda’s history, determined to continue serving despite visible physical challenges.
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