One of the longest-serving government officials, General (rtd) Moses Ali, has announced that he still has the energy to serve the people of Adjumani West in Parliament.
Ali, aged 85, made the revelations on Wednesday while handing out 130 land titles to locals in Kiraba Parish in Adjumani District.
The retired army officer, who is serving as the Second Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Leader of Government Business in Parliament, has been an MP for four terms but feels he still has a lot to offer in leadership.
He says despite being pronounced dead several times, he’s able-bodied to play a part in active politics.
“Elections are held every five years in Uganda. I will contest again, and if you are not happy, it’s up to you. Anyone is allowed to contest against me,” he said.
Ali first joined the government in 1971 as part of the coup that overthrew President Milton Obote’s government. He served as the Finance Minister until he was sacked in 1978 and fled into exile to South Sudan.
In the 1980s, he led the Uganda National Rescue Front in an armed rebellion against the government of reinstated President Milton Obote. However, when Obote was once again overthrown, Ali negotiated a deal with President Yoweri Museveni, who had taken over power in 1986. He (Ali) was integrated into the National Resistance Army, which later became the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF). Since then, Ali has served in different capacities.