68 years Old Uganda’s Deputy Prime Minister Moses Ali Gets 2026 Nomination From Vehicle Window

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.