“Old Age Is Not A Crime, It’s My Qualification, To Hell With My Critics” Gen. Moses Ali Hits Back

Gen. (Rtd) Moses Ali, Uganda’s Second Deputy Prime Minister and longtime Member of Parliament for Adjumani West, has responded firmly to growing criticism aimed at his re-election campaign ahead of the 2026 general elections.

Speaking to journalists following a well-attended rally in his home village of Abiricaku, Adjumani District, on July 12, Gen. Ali addressed concerns surrounding his age and health, calling them nothing more than political blackmail and unfounded hostility.

Now 86, the veteran politician brushed off age-related criticisms, arguing that his years bring strength, not weakness. “Old age is not a crime—it is my qualification!” he declared passionately. “To hell with my critics. What crime have I committed to attract such venom and hatred?”

Much of the recent backlash has come from exiled writer and political activist Kakwenza Rukirabashaija, who has vowed to petition Uganda’s Constitutional Court under Article 80(2)(f), a clause that disqualifies individuals of “unsound mind” from standing for Parliament.

Gen. Ali dismissed the claims as baseless and insulting, affirming that he remains mentally sound and fully capable of serving. He criticized Kakwenza as a “fugitive” who has lost respect for Uganda’s cultural norms—particularly the reverence accorded to elders. “Leadership is not about being young,” he said. “It’s about loyalty, wisdom, and integrity.”

Highlighting his decades of public service, Gen. Ali reminded the public of his unblemished record—free from corruption scandals or human rights violations. “I have served this country with honor and peace,” he said. “And I still have the energy to deliver results.”

He also outlined his continued development agenda for Adjumani, pointing to key infrastructure projects such as the planned bridge across the River Nile, improved road connections to South Sudan, and efforts to upgrade Adjumani Town Council to municipal status.

Confident ahead of the upcoming NRM party primaries scheduled for July 17, Gen. Ali expressed trust in the people of Adjumani. “They know me. They have stood by me for years. I will not disappoint them.”

Meanwhile, Gen. (Rtd) David Sejusa, another prominent military figure, came to Gen. Ali’s defense on social media. Sejusa criticized those who, in his words, seek to humiliate a national elder, and urged Ugandans to respect leaders who played key roles in the country’s formative political and military years.

Having entered politics in 1968 and served under multiple administrations—including that of President Idi Amin—Gen. Ali has been a constant presence through Uganda’s turbulent political transitions. With characteristic defiance, his message to critics as 2026 approaches is clear: “Respect experience and leadership—not just youth and noise.”