Uganda Today Edition: I Am Born To Lead: 90-Year-Old Minister Moses Ali Seeks Re-Election After 60 Years in Government
By Uganda Today News Team | www.ugandatoday.co.ug | April 15, 2025
In a move that has sparked a fresh wave of public debate on leadership renewal and gerontocracy in Uganda’s political space, just only 4 years shy of 90-years-old Rtd. Gen. Moses Ali has declared his intention to run again for Member of Parliament in the 2026 general elections.
Ali, the current MP for Adjumani West and one of the longest-serving ministers under President Yoweri Museveni’s government, made the declaration during a public event in Yumbe District, where he was representing President Museveni at Boma Grounds. A video that has since gone viral on social media shows the elderly general addressing voters with visible frailty but unwavering political resolve, telling his constituents, “I am born to lead. Vote for me again in 2026.”
A Legacy Spanning Regimes
Moses Ali’s political journey spans an astonishing six decades. He first entered national leadership during Idi Amin’s regime in the early 1970s. In 1973, he was appointed Minister of Provincial Administration (Interior), and by 1975, he was elevated to the role of Minister of Finance under Amin.
After Amin’s fall, Ali retreated to the political margins until President Museveni came to power in 1986. Museveni appointed him Minister for Youth, Culture, and Sports in July of that year. Since then, Moses Ali has held various ministerial and parliamentary roles, including as a member of the National Resistance Council (NRC) for East Moyo, and later as Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities. He has alternated over the years between the positions of 2nd and 3rd Deputy Prime Minister.
Despite his advanced age and visibly declining health — including an incident where he collapsed in Parliament two years ago — Moses Ali has insisted that he still has the strength and clarity of vision to lead.
“I may not walk properly or speak as strongly as I used to, but my mind is still firm. I know what my people need,” he said in a prior interview last year, after facing criticism over his capacity to serve.
Public Reaction: Fatigue or Legacy?
Ali’s announcement has drawn mixed reactions. Some see his enduring service as a testament to loyalty and experience, while others view it as symbolic of Uganda’s deeply rooted political stagnation and the reluctance of the ruling class to give way to youthful leadership.
Political analysts have also pointed out that Moses Ali’s continued presence in politics underscores a broader trend within the NRM government—where older politicians maintain grip on power, often sidelining younger aspirants eager to contribute to national development.
Opposition figures have already begun to reference Moses Ali’s bid in their calls for political reform and leadership renewal, arguing that the country needs fresh ideas and energy.
The 2026 Election Looms
As Uganda prepares for the 2026 general elections, Moses Ali’s renewed candidacy highlights the enduring question: Is Uganda ready to embrace generational change, or will the old guard remain entrenched in power?
With President Museveni himself having ruled for nearly four decades, and several of his ministers having served since the mid-1980s or earlier, Uganda’s political future remains deeply intertwined with its past.
Whether voters in Adjumani West will rally behind the nonagenarian yet again remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—Moses Ali has no intention of leaving the stage quietly.
“I am born to lead,” he said with trembling conviction—his voice perhaps fading, but his ambition still loud.
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