The Government has announced a state-backed official burial for the late Gen. Moses Ali, one of Uganda’s longest-serving political and military leaders, in recognition of more than five decades of service to the country.
Speaking on behalf of the government, Minister for the Presidency Babirye Milly Babalanda said President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni directed that Gen. Moses Ali be accorded an official burial in accordance with Article 99 of the Constitution, which vests executive authority in the President.
Babalanda said the decision followed consultations with the First Family, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) leadership, the bereaved family, leaders from West Nile and other key stakeholders.
“Gen. Moses Ali will be deeply missed not only by those who knew him, worked with him and were led by him, but also by generations of Ugandans who drew inspiration from his exemplary leadership, patriotism and distinguished political career,” Babalanda said.
To oversee the funeral arrangements, government has established a hybrid National Organising Committee chaired by the Minister for the Presidency. The committee brings together representatives from the Office of the President, Parliament, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), the Uganda Police Force and members of the bereaved family.
According to the official programme, Cabinet paid tribute to the late general at State House Entebbe on Monday before a vigil and private prayers were held at his residence in Naguru.
On Tuesday, President Museveni is expected to lead national tributes during a special sitting of Parliament, after which the body will be airlifted to Abili Chako Village in Adjumani District for an official vigil.
The burial is scheduled for Wednesday following district council tributes and prayers in Adjumani. Vice President Jessica Alupo will represent the government at the funeral.
Gen. Moses Ali died at the age of 87, leaving behind a legacy that spans Uganda’s military, political and public service history.
Born on April 5, 1939, in Maliaderi, Ataboo Parish, Pakele Division in present-day Adjumani District, he joined the Uganda Army after receiving military training in Israel and the United Kingdom and eventually rose to the rank of four-star General.
Over the course of his career, he held several senior cabinet positions, including Minister of Finance, Minister of Internal Affairs, Minister of Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, and Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities. He also served for many years as Second Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Leader of Government Business in Parliament.
In addition to his political and military career, Gen. Moses Ali pursued legal and academic studies, earning a Bachelor of Laws degree from Makerere University, a Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre and a Master’s degree in Intelligence Studies from the American Military University.
He also held several influential national and international positions, including Chairman of the Uganda Football Association, Governor of the African Development Bank and the African Development Fund, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Islamic Development Bank and a member of the Makerere University Council.
Although he faced political and legal challenges in the early 1990s, including treason charges from which he was later acquitted, Gen. Moses Ali remained a prominent figure in national politics and was re-elected as Member of Parliament for Adjumani West in the January 2026 general elections.
Paying tribute, the Chairperson of the West Nile Parliamentary Caucus and Obongi County MP, Hassan Kaps Fungaroo, described his death as a significant loss to both the West Nile region and the country.
“We are in a state of mourning. We have lost one of our own, a leader who dedicated his life to serving Uganda and representing the people of West Nile,” Fungaroo said.
He urged leaders and residents of the region to use the mourning period to reflect on Gen. Moses Ali’s legacy and to chart a shared vision for the future leadership and development of West Nile.
Gen. Moses Ali will be laid to rest with full official honours at his ancestral home in Abili Chako Village, Adjumani District, bringing to a close the life of a statesman whose influence shaped Uganda’s military, political and governance landscape for more than half a century.
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