Fact-Checking Promises Made By Moses Ali In The 11th Parliament

General Moses Ali, the indomitable 86-year-old MP for Adjumani West and Second Deputy Prime Minister, is once again in the electoral ring for 2026. His campaign, brimming with promises of infrastructure and youth skilling, is shadowed by questions about his health and the wisdom of entrusting the future to a leader whose political career began before most Ugandans were born. Let us journey through the timeline of his pledges and performance, separating fact from fiction.

Adjumani District:

Adjumani district was carved from Moyo district in 1997, and it sits along Uganda’s northwestern border with South Sudan. This area has endured decades of upheaval, from Idi Amin’s regime through the Lord’s Resistance Army conflict and waves of South Sudanese refugees, shaping a resilient, diverse community in the face of adversity. 

Life in Adjumani has revolved around agriculture, refugee integration, and gradual improvements in health, education, and infrastructure, with the district often recognised for exemplary service delivery despite persistent challenges like land disputes and resource strain from hosting more refugees than nationals. Politically, Adjumani has consistently favoured the National Resistance Movement (NRM), which is the ruling party, evidenced by overwhelming support in recent elections and the enduring influence of figures like General Moses Ali, whose long tenure reflects both loyalty to the ruling party and local trust in his leadership. 

It should also be noted that, given this history, peace and stability are the main priorities for residents in this area, even if it means having no alternative decision for candidates. 

General Moses Ali

Moses Ali began his political career in the early 1970s, emerging from a military background. After joining the Ugandan army in 1968 and rising rapidly through the ranks, Ali became a prominent figure during the 1971 coup that brought Idi Amin to power. He was promoted to Major and then Colonel, and by 1973, he was appointed Minister of Provincial Administration. 

In 1975, he was named Minister of Finance, making him one of Amin’s closest and most influential cabinet members. Ali’s ascent was rooted in his military service and his ability to build support within the army, which translated into political appointments and influence at the national level. His early political career was thus intertwined with military leadership and key ministerial roles under Idi Amin’s regime.

2021 Promises: What did Moses Ali pledge to do in the 11th Parliament?

Starting his Moses Ali’s 2021 campaign, rooted in the NRM Manifesto, focused on five main priorities:

1. Tarmacking and Improving Roads in West Nile.
2. Resolving the Apaa Land Conflict between Amuru and Adjumani districts.
3. Developing Infrastructure, notably bridges at Laropi and Sinyaya.
4. Supporting National Development Goals, wealth creation, jobs, and inclusive growth.
5. Attracting Investment through international partnerships, notably with Sardinia, Italy.

Let us break this down in terms of delivery

1. Tarmacking and Improvement of Roads

• 2021–2025: Ali championed the upgrade of the Laropi-Afoji and Atyak-Omi roads, vital arteries for West Nile’s economy. Ali has claimed credit for lobbying projects like the Atyak-Omi road and the Laropi-Afoji road (37km). A 2023 update from the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) confirmed progress on the Laropi-Afoji road, connecting Atiak-Omi to Moyo and Koboko districts, supporting economic activity.  

Ali’s speech at a 2025 event highlighted the Atyak-Omi road as a completed project. The UNRA team noted the road’s alignment with regional connectivity goals, though completion timelines are unclear, with visible progress but no official word on full tarmacking or completion dates. The road is being transformed to tarmac and funded by the World Bank at a 494 billion UGX fee. 

• 2025: Ali highlighted these roads in campaign speeches, but reports show only partial fulfilment. Other promised roads remain in limbo, hampered by “funding” and “bureaucratic delays.”

Verdict: Partially True. This is because the roads, as promised at the previous campaigns, have not been entirely completed. 

2. Resolving the Apaa Land Conflict

Apaa is a contested area straddling the border of Amuru and Adjumani districts in northern Uganda, whose land dispute has roots stretching back to colonial-era boundary demarcations and was further complicated by the region’s gazetting as a wildlife reserve after the Lord’s Resistance Army insurgency ended in 2006. 

 

The conflict centres on overlapping claims by the Acholi (Amuru) and Madi (Adjumani) communities, government agencies, and the Uganda Wildlife Authority, leading to repeated cycles of violence, displacement, and destruction of property, most recently with hundreds fleeing renewed clashes as late as 2025. Multiple government interventions, including a 2023 Judicial Commission, have failed to deliver a resolution, as political, ethnic, and economic interests remain deeply entrenched. 

 

Ali was accused in 2017 of inciting violence, which he denied, stating he was ready for prison if evidence was found. In 2012, as First Deputy Prime Minister, Ali led a cabinet sub-committee to investigate, but it failed to resolve the issue, leading to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni forming a new committee in 2018. Clashes have continued, with deaths and displacement reported as recently as 2017.  

The promise to resolve Apaa is far-reaching because it involves historical grievances, ethnic identity, land rights, wildlife conservation, and the livelihoods of thousands, making it a highly complex and sensitive issue that has defied solutions for over decades. Adjumani MPs, including Jessica Ababiku, criticised the government’s delay in resolving the conflict in 2025, indicating no progress. Ali reiterated his intent to address Apaa in 2024, but no concrete outcomes were reported.  

• 2012–2024: Ali led a cabinet subcommittee on Apaa, but the land dispute persisted. Multiple government efforts, including a 2023 Judicial Commission, failed to resolve the conflict, with violence and displacement continuing into 2025.
• 2025: Despite renewed dialogue between the Acholi and Madi communities, no concrete resolution has emerged. Ali’s involvement is noted, but so are accusations of stalling and political interference. The most recent clash happened in April 2025. 

Verdict: False, the conflict remains unresolved, with no clear breakthrough.

3. Infrastructure Development: Bridges

• 2023: The Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) announced plans for the Laropi Bridge, with construction expected to start in the next financial year after 2025, but as of mid-2025, that project has not yet begun. Community advocacy for the Laropi bridge remains strong; meanwhile, the Sinyaya bridge is absent from recent updates, but one promised before by the candidate.

Verdict: False. This construction has not been undertaken but promises to do so continue being made. 

4. Support for National Development Goals and Investment in Madi Region

• 2023–2024: Ali helped launch the Madi Sub-region Presidential Industrial Hub, training hundreds of youths in trades like welding and tailoring. Testimonies from graduates and local leaders confirm economic impact.

The 450 youths trained in vocational skills like tailoring, welding by April 2024, aligning with employment goals. 

He also lobbied for a World Bank-funded water project from the Nile to Adjumani and development partnerships with Sardinia, Italy, for agriculture and energy.  

 

The Sardinia partnership, signed in 2019, aims to address water, agriculture, and energy challenges, though specific outcomes are unclear.  A 2023 visit by Sardinian experts indicates ongoing planning, but no major investment outcomes like completed projects have been reported. The Presidential Industrial Hub also supports investment in skills for agriculture and manufacturing.  While the MOU with Sardinia, Italy and the hub are active, tangible investment results like businesses or infrastructure are not well-documented.  

 

Verdict: Partially fulfilled. Initiatives are in progress, but significant investment outcomes are not yet evident. 

Health and Capacity: Can Ali Deliver at 86?

Ali’s nomination for the 2026 race was conducted while he remained seated in his car, too frail to stand or speak, a scene that ignited national debate about the wisdom of ageing leadership. 

Health scares, including a public incident in Kampala, have fueled concerns. Yet, supporters point to his continued influence, ability to commission projects, and direct access to the president. Part of the Madi community stands by him, citing his legacy and ongoing projects, while critics argue that his frailty and long tenure stifle generational change. 

Social media users and opponents, like Jaffar Alekua, criticise Ali’s long tenure and health, arguing it reflects greed and stifles youth leadership. Some accuse him of failing to address the Apaa and Zoka Forest issues. Ali’s strong Madi support base contrasts with national criticism of entrenched power. His 2020 NRM primary landslide (11,799 vs. 5,204 votes) shows local loyalty, but emerging challengers like Nixon Owole suggest growing competition and the ability to fully fulfil previous and new promises.