Uganda’s 86-year-old Second Deputy Prime Minister, General (Rtd) Moses Ali, has been actively campaigning ahead of the January 2026 elections, despite appearing to be in poor health.
Ali was officially nominated on Tuesday to contest in the upcoming National Resistance Movement (NRM) primaries—without leaving his car.
In a video posted by Crime Watch Zimbabwe, the retired general appeared visibly unwell, seated inside a vehicle, struggling to lift his head and unable to speak clearly as he rolled his tongue in apparent discomfort.
However, despite his condition, the nomination process proceeded.
Ali, who is seeking to retain his East Moyo County parliamentary seat in Adjumani District, received a personal visit from NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson, Dr. Tanga Odoi, who confirmed his nomination at the car window, making it official without Ali stepping out of the vehicle.
His nomination, conducted in such an unusual manner, has raised questions about the health and capacity of ageing political figures in Uganda’s leadership landscape.
Also nominated was Uganda’s Third Deputy Prime Minister, Rukia Nakadama, who is vying for the Mayuge District Woman MP seat.
Ali, one of Uganda’s longest-serving politicians, made no public address and did not speak to the media, appearing only briefly while seated in his car.
Born in 1939 in Adjumani District, Ali began his career as a military officer during Idi Amin’s regime, eventually serving as Finance Minister.
In the early 1980s, he became a rebel leader, heading the Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRF), before reconciling with President Museveni’s National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Since then, he has held numerous positions in government, including in Parliament, the Cabinet, and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), where he holds the rank of General.
Currently representing Adjumani West County in Parliament—a seat he has held since 2011—Ali maintains a strong support base in West Nile, particularly among the Madi community, who view him as a father figure and staunch advocate for their interests.
Meanwhile, X users have condemned his nomination, referring to him as an ‘ancestor’ and describing African politicians as greedy.
An X user, CityBoyABJ, said, “The man on parcengers side done tire habba. Are there no young people in the country? I know it’s an African issue but this one is beyond annoying.”
@Topecole said, “I don’t get why they like that power and greed. Power is so intoxicating. They want to just control everything. Very wicked people.
“The driver is like please abeg.”
“How embarrassing. African countries will never be taken seriously on the world stage,” another X user, @Just_tina69, said.
@Okeyhillsbay said, “Most African does not acknowledge leadership as a working occupation that requires a proven result to your employers. They believe it’s their time to steal and enjoy public resources with chosen family and friends.
“The fault is from us citizens who refused to sanitize our employees and demand the highest possible accountability. Kitchen and bedroom complains should be extinguished and replace with bold instructions from the citizens on how they should be served (govern).
“African time is now.”
@Bunmi_speaks said, “Does he even know where he is or what the occasion is about at all? Quite shameful. The greed of Afrikans (his handlers) is what’s kiłłling Afrika.”
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