Gen Moses Ali dies at 87

What the report says

The Observer reports that Gen. (Rtd) Moses Ali, a veteran Ugandan soldier and politician who served in several governments and held senior Cabinet posts, has died aged 87. Family members at Nakasero Hospital said he died at about 4:25 p.m. on Saturday, with relatives gathering there ahead of formal funeral arrangements. The report says a source in the Office of the Prime Minister also confirmed the death and indicated that Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja was expected to make an official government announcement.

According to The Observer, Ali had been admitted earlier in the week, and several of his children, including some who had travelled from abroad, met privately at the hospital on Friday. Former health minister and Soroti Municipality MP Capt. Mike Mukula also posted a condolence message on X confirming the death.

Ali was born in 1939 in present-day Adjumani district and joined the Uganda Army in the 1960s. He rose to prominence after Idi Amin’s 1971 coup, serving as a senior commander and in ministerial roles, including finance and internal administration. After Amin’s fall, he went into exile and later led the Uganda National Rescue Front in the West Nile region.

The Observer notes that Ali later negotiated with President Yoweri Museveni’s government, after which UNRF fighters were absorbed into the National Resistance Army, now the UPDF. He went on to serve as a senior minister, deputy prime minister and MP, representing constituencies in the Adjumani area. Funeral details are expected after statements from the family and government.