Just recently, General Moses Ali was re-elected to his parliamentary seat, making him the oldest elected politician in Uganda.
Having served as the Deputy Prime Minister as well as Minister of Finance, he has vast experience in leadership and shows no signs of slowing down despite his advanced age.
Apart from his political career, Gen. Moses Ali is also a family man who has raised several children. In this segment, Times Digital Kenya explores his family life and his career in leadership, including his military service.
Career
Born on April 5, 1939 at Meliaderi Village, Uganda, Moses Ali joined the army at a young age. He received high-level training in the United Kingdom and Israel. Upon his return to Uganda, Ali swiftly rose through the ranks, becoming a second lieutenant in 1969 and a brigadier five years later in 1974.
Thanks to his experience, he was appointed to the Cabinet by then-President Idi Amin, where he served as Minister of Interior and later Minister of Finance. Unfortunately, his time in government was short-lived after he fell out with the regime, leading to the loss of his military privileges.
In 1979, Gen. Moses Ali went into exile following the fall of Idi Amin. He later made a comeback in the 1980s, leading a rebel group, the Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRF). Thereafter, he reconciled with President Yoweri Museveni, and his fighters were integrated into the Uganda People’s Defence Force. This earned him the rank of major general in Museveni’s regime.
After years of service as a major general, he was promoted to lieutenant general in 2003 and to full general in 2012.
Political Career
In leadership, General Moses Ali has served as a Cabinet minister in several ministries, including Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities; Minister of Finance; Minister of Internal Affairs; and Minister of Disaster Preparedness and Refugees.
He first entered Parliament in 1996 after being elected as the MP for East Moyo Constituency. He has also served as Deputy Prime Minister in different stints: in 2003, from 2011 to 2016, and from 2016 to 2021.
At the age of 86, Gen. Moses Ali is now the oldest elected Member of Parliament in Uganda, having retained his seat in the 2025 general election.
Gen Moses Ali the family Man
The veteran lawmaker is a father of 30 children and is officially married to four wives. Sadly, one of his wives died a few years ago.
According to a report by the Monitor, Moses Ali is a loving father and husband who often encourages his children, as well as other relatives, to prioritise education in today’s competitive world.
While speaking to Ugandan news outlet Monitor, one of his wives, Sarah, revealed that the retired general is a brave and hardworking man who never gives up.
“He is a generous husband and cares for his family members, including outsiders, and he has been helpful to many people, including some prominent young politicians in the region” Sarah said.
She further said that despite his advanced age, Moses Ali always comes up with new ideas and that he has never rebelled against the government.
After losing his parliamentary seat in 2006, he embarked on farming, a passion he had embraced since 1974. This also brought him closer to his family as he pursued his law studies.
