President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Tuesday made a rare appearance in Parliament to personally pay tribute to the late Gen. Moses Ali, departing from his long-standing practice of sending written condolence messages whenever Parliament honours deceased legislators.
His presence underscored the significance of Gen. Ali’s place in Uganda’s political and military history, highlighting the remarkable journey of a former adversary who became a trusted ally, a military commander who embraced reconciliation, and one of the country’s longest-serving public servants.
Upon arrival, the President walked to the casket, laid a wreath and signed the condolence book. He then paused to reread his message, remaining silent for a few moments in what appeared to be a personal reflection before proceeding to address the House.
In his tribute, Museveni described the former Second Deputy Prime Minister and Member of Parliament for Adjumani West as a leader whose life was guided by three defining principles: a commitment to freedom, dedication to peace, and an unwavering passion for the development of the West Nile region.
The President traced Gen. Ali’s political journey to his fallout with former President Idi Amin.
“He was a lover of freedom. That’s why he fell apart with Idi Amin,” Museveni said, recalling that Ali was dismissed from Amin’s government in 1978.
Museveni also reflected on his own opposition to Amin’s regime, saying he was among the earliest Ugandans to resist the military government.
Turning to the period that followed Amin’s overthrow, the President said revenge attacks against communities from West Nile during the Uganda People’s Congress government forced hundreds of thousands of people into exile.
“There were mistakes in the UPC government. West Nilers were killed in revenge. That is when the refugee situation started. Most people fled to Congo and South Sudan,” he said, estimating that nearly 500,000 Ugandans became refugees.
In an emotional moment, Museveni invited Ugandans who were born in exile, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, to stand and be recognised before joining them for a group photograph inside Parliament.
The President also revisited Uganda’s turbulent political and military history, explaining how several armed groups operated independently during the early 1980s.
He recalled travelling to Libya in June 1981, months after launching the National Resistance Army rebellion, where then Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi encouraged the different anti-government groups to continue their respective struggles.
It was during those engagements, Museveni said, that he first met Moses Ali, who at the time led the Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRF).
Museveni said he returned to Libya again in 1985 after concluding that although the NRA had accumulated sufficient military strength, lasting peace required broader political cooperation among Uganda’s competing armed movements.
Following the collapse of Milton Obote’s government in July 1985, Museveni said he reached out to leaders including Gen. Bazilio Olara Okello, Gen. Tito Okello and Paul Ssemogerere to encourage the formation of a united national government.
He described Gen. Ali as a military commander who consistently favoured dialogue over confrontation.
The President recalled that he frequently heard Ali mentioned alongside Dr. Amos Adriko and initially assumed Adriko was a medical doctor. He later realised the two leaders were working together in efforts aimed at advancing peace.
Museveni also recounted another meeting in Libya after receiving intelligence that several armed groups intended to unite while excluding the NRA.
“We said that was wrong,” he said, crediting Ali with supporting inclusive dialogue instead of deepening political divisions.
“He was a peacemaker.”
Although Gen. Ali once fought against the National Resistance Movement government as chairman of the Uganda National Rescue Front, he later reconciled with the NRM following peace negotiations.
His political journey was not without setbacks. According to his official curriculum vitae, Ali was arrested at State House, Entebbe, on April 7, 1990, and charged with treason, terrorism and illegal possession of firearms before being remanded to Luzira Prison.
He was convicted on the firearms charge and sentenced to two and a half years in prison, but the High Court later acquitted him. He was subsequently cleared of the treason charges, paving the way for his return to public service.
Gen. Ali would go on to serve in successive NRM administrations, rising to become Second Deputy Prime Minister, Deputy Leader of Government Business in Parliament and a four-star General, making him one of Uganda’s longest-serving political figures and a notable example of national reconciliation.
Museveni said Ali remained deeply committed to improving the lives of the people of West Nile throughout his years in government.
“He was a lover of West Nile,” the President said.
“He was always pushing for the problems of West Nile, roads, the railway, electricity and others.”
Museveni noted that many of the infrastructure projects Ali persistently advocated for have since been implemented, while others are still under construction.
He urged the people of West Nile to preserve the late leader’s legacy by embracing government wealth creation programmes and taking advantage of development opportunities.
“He was a development person,” Museveni said.
The President also praised Gen. Ali’s efforts to promote unity within Uganda’s Muslim community.
“I hear that even in the Muslim groups, he was instrumental in development. That’s why his body was taken to different mosques,” he said.
As Parliament continued paying tribute to the late statesman, legislators from both the ruling party and the opposition remembered Gen. Moses Ali as a towering political figure whose influence shaped both West Nile and Uganda’s national politics for decades.
Many described him as the “lion” and the “cock” of West Nile, reflecting the commanding presence he maintained throughout his long public career.
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