86-year-old Gen Moses Ali wins NRM race after filing papers from his car
By Martin Oduor, July 18, 2025In a race marked by controversy, nostalgia, and resilience, 86-year-old General Moses Ali, Uganda’s Second Deputy Prime Minister and political heavyweight, has clinched the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party ticket for Adjumani West County – securing his place in what may be his final parliamentary contest.
Gen Ali, who has held the parliamentary seat for over two decades, garnered 8,609 votes in the party primaries held on Thursday, July 17, 2025, decisively defeating his closest rival Nixon Owole, who received 4,492.
Two other candidates, Moses Kibrai and Santos Gabriel Adrawa, trailed with 1,454 and 810 votes, respectively.
Despite his age and persistent public debate about his health, Gen Ali remains a formidable force in Ugandan politics.
His candidacy drew global attention on June 17, 2025, when a photo of him submitting his nomination papers from inside his vehicle went viral.
The image sparked widespread conversation online, with critics questioning the vitality of a man who has largely been absent from the campaign trail, often delegating public appearances to aides and task force members.
Yet his message—delivered through surrogates and the occasional written address—was clear: he is not done yet.
“There is unfinished business,” his camp insisted, citing his push for a new bridge at Laropi over the Nile, expanded access to clean water, a tarmacked Laropi–Moyo–Afoji road, better health infrastructure, and rural electrification.
Gen Ali’s career
Gen Ali’s long political career stretches back to 1968, when he joined the Uganda Army as a cadet officer and rose through the ranks to become a four-star general.
His first Cabinet role came in 1973, and over the decades, he has held positions in ministries ranging from Finance to Internal Affairs to Disaster Preparedness.
He is widely regarded as one of Uganda’s most enduring political survivors, having served through multiple regimes and won nearly every parliamentary race since 2001, with the exception of a defeat in 2006.
His longevity in power is often attributed to a deep-rooted political network and his symbolic status as a statesman in northern Uganda.
Still, his re-election bid has exposed rifts within the local electorate.
While many residents in Adjumani remain fiercely loyal, others – especially younger voters – have voiced frustration over his limited physical presence on the ground and what they see as stagnation in service delivery.
Nevertheless, Gen Ali’s supporters argue that his experience and contacts in government remain unmatched, and that his final term could be a legacy-defining chapter if he fulfils the promises outlined in his latest manifesto.
His campaign team insists this will be his last attempt at elective office, aiming to close a chapter that began nearly six decades ago with military service and evolved into one of the most enduring political careers in Uganda’s history.
With Uganda’s general elections slated for January 12, 2026, it remains to be seen whether Gen Ali will fend off his challengers to retain the Adjumani West County seat.