Concerns are mounting over the gerontocratic grip on African politics following the dramatic nomination of Uganda’s 86-year-old Second Deputy Prime Minister, General (Rtd) Moses Ali, for the 2026 general elections—while seated, slumped, and visibly frail in the front seat of a vehicle.
In a now-viral video shared by Crime Watch Zimbabwe, the retired general appeared visibly unwell, struggling to lift his head or speak clearly. Seated in a parked vehicle, Ali made no public statement. Instead, his nomination to contest the National Resistance Movement (NRM) primaries was validated through his car window by NRM Electoral Commission Chairman, Dr. Tanga Odoi—without the ailing statesman ever stepping out.
Ali is seeking to retain his parliamentary seat for East Moyo County in Adjumani District—a seat he has held since 2011. But the spectacle of his nomination has sparked a fiery public debate about the role of ageing, ailing leaders in Uganda’s and Africa’s political systems.
Once a towering figure in Uganda’s history, Moses Ali’s journey from a top military officer during Idi Amin’s regime, to Finance Minister, rebel leader of the Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRF), and later a reconciled ally of President Yoweri Museveni, is the stuff of political lore. He has remained a constant in Uganda’s power corridors—holding influential roles in the Cabinet, Parliament, and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, where he holds the rank of General.
But today, critics argue, his presence represents the excesses of political overstaying and the refusal of elder statesmen to pass the baton.
Social media erupted with fury, as many users condemned what they called a spectacle of shame and a failure of leadership renewal.
“The man on the passenger’s side done tire, habba. Are there no young people in the country?” wrote @CityBoyABJ on X (formerly Twitter).
@Topecole added, “I don’t get why they love that power and greed. Power is intoxicating. They just want to control everything. Very wicked people.”
@Just_tina69 weighed in with a damning indictment: “How embarrassing. African countries will never be taken seriously on the world stage.”
Others pointed fingers at the electorate and political handlers. “Africans don’t treat leadership as a job with deliverables,” said @Okeyhillsbay. “We allow this culture to fester by failing to demand performance and accountability. Kitchen and bedroom complaints won’t save us.”
Echoing similar frustration, @Bunmi_speaks asked bluntly, “Does he even know where he is or what the occasion is? The greed of his handlers is what’s killing Afrika.”
Also nominated during the process was Third Deputy Prime Minister Rukia Nakadama, who will be vying for the Mayuge District Woman MP seat. However, her nomination was overshadowed by the spectacle surrounding Ali.
Moses Ali remains a beloved figure among the Madi community in West Nile, who credit him with advocacy for their region. Yet, critics warn that sentimentalism should not override critical leadership choices—especially when health and capacity are visibly in question.
As Uganda heads toward its 2026 elections, the scene at that car window may very well become a symbol of a deeper African dilemma: the struggle to transition from legacy politics to a vibrant, youthful, and accountable democratic future.
PIONEER NEWS 