86-year-old General Moses Ali, Uganda’s Second Deputy Prime Minister, has clinched the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party ticket for Adjumani West County.

Gen Ali, garnered 8,609 votes in the party primaries held on Thursday, July 17, 2025, defeating his closest rival Nixon Owole, who received 4,492.

Two other candidates, Moses Kibrai and Santos Gabriel Adrawa, got 1,454 and 810 votes, respectively.

Despite his age and persistent public debate about his health, Gen Ali who has held the parliamentary seat for over two decades, remains a formidable force in Ugandan politics.

His candidacy drew attention on June 17, 2025, when a photo of him submitting his nomination papers from inside his vehicle went viral.

Despite the widespread conversation, with critics questioning his capabilities the political heavyweight remains adamant saying ”he is not yet done.’ Gen Ali has been largely been absent from the campaign trail, often delegating public appearances to aides and task force members.

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.

Born on April 5, 1939, Gen Ali is a key figure in Uganda’s military and political spheres. He joined the army at a young age, receiving advanced training in Israel and the UK, and rose swiftly through the ranks from 2nd Lieutenant in 1969 to Brigadier by 1974.

He served under Idi Amin as Minister of Interior and later Finance but fell out with the regime and lost his military privileges.

After Amin’s fall in 1979, Ali went into exile and later led the Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRF) rebel group during the 1980s. In 1986, he reconciled with President Museveni, integrating his fighters into the national army and earning the rank of Major General. He was promoted to Lieutenant General in 2003 and to General in 2012.