Museveni laying a wreath on the casket of the late Gen. Moses Ali
The late Gen. Moses Ali has been described as a lover of freedom right from the days of Idi Amin to the day he succumbed to sickness.
Those were remarks made by President Yoweri Museveni today during a special parliamentary sitting convened to honour the late Gen. Moses Ali, who passed away on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at Nakasero Hospital in Kampala at the age of 87.
In his tribute, Museveni further described him as a freedom fighter, peacemaker and development champion whose legacy will continue to inspire generations of Ugandans.
“I came to know this because although he had been with Idi Amin in the coup of 1971, I later heard that Moses Ali was not happy with Idi Amin killing people,” he said.
Before addressing Parliament, President Museveni laid a wreath on the casket of the Adjumani West County Member of Parliament and former Second Deputy Prime Minister.
He was in the presence of the Vice President, Jessica Alupo, the Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Marksons Oboth-Oboth, members of the bereaved family and other dignitaries. The President also took time to console the family before delivering his tribute.
The President recalled that Gen. Moses Ali’s opposition to the excesses of Idi Amin’s regime eventually led to his demotion and exile following the fall of the regime in 1979.
He further noted that the late Gen. Moses Ali actively participated in efforts to overthrow Amin’s dictatorship, working on various fronts alongside other liberation forces, which contributed to Uganda’s eventual liberation.
“I was the first man in Uganda to oppose Idi Amin. I’m here, and I’m not dead,” President Museveni said.
Reflecting on Gen. Moses Ali’s contribution to peace, the Museveni said the veteran leader rejected violence and worked tirelessly to promote dialogue and reconciliation during Uganda’s difficult post-1970s period, helping to lay the foundation for lasting national stability.
On development, he commended the late statesman for championing key infrastructure projects in the West Nile sub-region, including the construction of tarmac roads and the extension of the national electricity grid, among other transformative initiatives.
The President also challenged leaders in West Nile to sustain Gen. Moses Ali’s legacy by prioritising household wealth creation, saying socio-economic transformation remains the surest path to lasting development.
“Gen. Moses Ali would be remembered for three outstanding qualities: his unwavering commitment to freedom, his pursuit of peace through dialogue, and his dedication to the socio-economic transformation of West Nile,” he said.
Said Museveni: “I came here to tell you the positive attributes I saw in Gen. Moses Ali: number one, a freedom fighter; number two, a peacemaker; and number three, a development champion.”
The President concluded by extending his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, the people of West Nile and the entire nation, praying that Gen. Moses Ali’s soul rests in eternal peace.
Gen. (Rtd) Moses Ali served Uganda in both military and civilian leadership for more than five decades, holding several senior government positions, including that of Second Deputy Prime Minister, and leaving behind a legacy of dedicated public service, national unity and development.
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