The late Gen. Moses Ali was on Sunday remembered as a patriotic leader, devoted Muslim, loving father and steadfast public servant whose legacy will continue to inspire generations. Speakers at funeral prayers held at the Uganda National Mosque in Kampala described the former First Deputy Prime Minister as a courageous statesman who defended the interests of the Muslim community, championed education and remained committed to serving Uganda despite declining health.
Third Deputy Prime Minister Rukia Isanga Nakadama praised Gen. Moses Ali’s honesty and unwavering commitment to the country, saying he commanded respect before President Yoweri Museveni and within Cabinet. She said the veteran politician used his influence to build friendships for Uganda wherever he travelled and was a highly trained and respected military officer who received military training in countries including Israel, the United Kingdom and others.
Nakadama thanked President Museveni for granting the late general a state funeral, describing it as a fitting recognition of his decades of dedicated service to Uganda. She also paid tribute to the people of Adjumani East Constituency for re-electing Gen. Moses Ali despite his failing health, saying their vote reflected the immense trust and affection they had for him.
”I asked whether there was no one who would contest against Gen. Moses Ali, but I was told the people loved him. They voted for him without even seeing him campaign because they trusted him,” she said. Nakadama appealed to the late general’s children to emulate their father’s values and prayed that Allah forgives his shortcomings and grants him Jannatul Firdaus.
The Mufti of Uganda, Dr. Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, described Gen. Moses Ali as one of Uganda’s most distinguished Muslim leaders whose faith shaped both his public service and personal character.
He said the Muslim community had lost one of its heroes, noting that the late general represented Muslims with dignity and conviction in national leadership alongside other prominent Muslim leaders who had served the country with distinction. ”He was not only a national leader but also a committed Muslim whose devotion to Islam guided his actions. His leadership reflected unity, reconciliation and service to the nation,” the Mufti said.
Quoting verses from the Holy Qur’an, the Mufti reminded mourners that every soul shall taste death and urged them to continue praying for the deceased. He praised Gen. Moses Ali’s resilience, saying that despite old age and ill health, he remained committed to serving Uganda until his final days.
The Mufti also shared personal experiences that reflected Gen. Moses Ali’s character. He recalled counselling the late general to forgive a fellow Muslim instead of presenting a complaint against him to President Museveni, advice he eventually accepted. He further narrated how Gen. Moses Ali once sought the intervention of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council over a blogger who had insulted him on social media. After the young man admitted his mistake and apologised, the General forgave him.
”That was the kind of man he was. He had a human heart and a kind heart despite being a soldier,” the Mufti said. Speaking on behalf of the family, Ismail Ali Musa described Gen. Moses Ali as a devoted father who remained actively involved in the upbringing of his children despite the demands of public office.
”He was a busy man, but every Sunday, he would visit us at school. He took great interest in our education and encouraged all of us to excel,” he said. He said his father believed education was the key to transforming society and supported many young people, especially girls, to pursue higher education. He added that the late general’s contribution to the Islamic University in Uganda reflected his passion for education.
Ismail also highlighted his father’s love for sports, noting that he served as chairman of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) and celebrated Uganda’s sporting achievements with pride. Beyond politics and the military, he said, Gen. Moses Ali was passionate about animal welfare, recalling an incident in which he pursued a motorist accused of abusing a monkey along Entebbe Road and ensured the matter was taken to court.
He thanked all Ugandans who had stood with the family during their time of grief and appealed to anyone the late general may have wronged to forgive him, while encouraging those whose lives he touched to remember him through prayers and acts of charity. Gen. Moses Ali died on Saturday at Nakasero Hospital after a period of illness. He will be accorded a state funeral in recognition of his decades of distinguished service to Uganda-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
