Parliament Pays Tribute to Fallen Gen. Moses Ali, Hails His Humility and Lifetime of Service

There was a sombre mood in Parliament on Tuesday as legislators from across the political divide rose one after another to honour the life and legacy of the late Adjumani West Member of Parliament, Gen. Moses Ali, describing him as a humble statesman whose dedication to Uganda remained unwavering for more than five decades.

Known affectionately as the “Cock of Madi” and the “Lion of West Nile,” Gen. Moses Ali died on Saturday, July 18, 2026, after a period of ill health. His death has left many in West Nile and across the country reflecting on the remarkable journey of a man who served under different governments and remained one of Uganda’s longest-serving political leaders.

Members of Parliament remembered him not only for the senior offices he held but also for his simplicity, honesty and willingness to mentor younger leaders. Many described him as a transparent leader who had little tolerance for corruption and always placed national service above personal interests.

Gen. Moses Ali served in several senior government positions throughout his career. At the time of his death, he served as the Second Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Leader of Government Business in Parliament, having previously served as First Deputy Prime Minister. He represented Adjumani West Constituency in Parliament continuously from 2001 until his passing.

The Woman Member of Parliament for Koboko District, Hon. Sherifa Aate Taban Amin, said Gen. Moses Ali’s greatest lesson to leaders was humility despite the many powerful positions he occupied.

“Gen. Moses Ali teaches us humility. He served this country for many years, from one government to another, yet he remained humble and accessible to the people. That is a lesson every leader should learn,” Aate said.

Hon. Joanne Aniku Okia, the Woman Member of Parliament for Madi Okollo District, said West Nile had lost more than a political leader, describing Gen. Moses Ali as a walking archive of the region’s history and development.

“In Gen. Moses Ali, we have lost institutional memory. He was instrumental in lobbying for roads, public institutions and other development projects that changed the face of West Nile. His wisdom and experience will be greatly missed,” Okia said.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Hon. Siraj Ali, Minister of State for Works and Transport and son of the late general, thanked Parliament and the government for standing with the family during their time of grief.

“We would like to thank the Government of Uganda and Parliament for according our father a befitting send-off. He dedicated his life to serving this country with dignity, and we are grateful that his contribution is being recognised,” Siraj said.

Meanwhile, the Minister for Local Government, Hon. Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, revealed that one of Gen. Moses Ali’s final appeals to government was the construction of the long-awaited Laropi Bridge linking Adjumani and Moyo districts across the River Nile.

He assured mourners that government would honour that request.

“We shall fulfil Gen. Moses Ali’s wish. The construction of the Laropi Bridge will be pursued so that his dream of improving connectivity between Adjumani and Moyo becomes a reality,” Balaam said.

Gen. Moses Ali will be laid to rest on Wednesday at his home in Abiricaku Cell, Adjumani Town Council, where thousands of mourners, political leaders, family members and friends are expected to gather to bid farewell to one of West Nile’s most influential sons.

For many in the region, Gen. Moses Ali’s legacy will not only be remembered through the high offices he held, but also through the roads, institutions and communities he helped build, and the humility with which he carried himself throughout a lifetime of public service.