THOUSANDS BID FAREWELL TO GEN. MOSES ALI AS UGANDA HONOURS A SOLDIER, STATESMAN AND PEACEMAKER

URN

An emotional atmosphere engulfed Adjumani District on Wednesday as hundreds of thousands of mourners gathered to bid farewell to Rt. Hon. Gen. (Rtd) Moses Ali, bringing together political leaders, military officers, diplomats, religious leaders and ordinary Ugandans to honour one of the country’s longest-serving public servants.

The state funeral, presided over by Vice President Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Alupo on behalf of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, reflected the stature of a man whose influence stretched across Uganda’s military, political and public life for more than five decades.

Senior government officials, Members of Parliament, UPDF generals, diplomats, cultural leaders and heads of institutions joined thousands of residents who lined up to pay their last respects.

For many in West Nile, however, the day was about more than the burial of a national leader. It was the farewell of a son of the region who many credited with helping restore peace after years of conflict, championing education and remaining deeply connected to his community despite holding some of the country’s highest offices.

The Muslim community, led by the Mufti of Uganda, His Eminence Dr. Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, was joined by Christian clergy, cultural leaders and thousands of faithful as prayers were offered for the departed statesman.

The funeral grounds in Adjumani Town remained filled from morning until evening as speaker after speaker reflected on Gen. Ali’s courage, humility, generosity and unwavering commitment to national service.

Vice President Alupo described the late general as a father figure whose dedication to Uganda would continue to inspire future generations.

“He was a role model and a father figure. Government pledges to ensure that all the development programmes he championed are fulfilled, including settling the payments of the former Uganda National Rescue Front ex-combatants who fought alongside the late Gen. Moses Ali to restore peace in the West Nile region,” Alupo said.

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa remembered Gen. Ali for the role he played in ensuring the Nubian community was recognised as one of Uganda’s indigenous communities during the Constituent Assembly debates that culminated in the 1995 Constitution. Flight Capt. (Rtd) Mike Mukula, who served with Gen. Ali, recounted his contribution to Uganda’s liberation struggle, saying the late general played a significant role in securing support that strengthened the National Resistance Army during the bush war.

As the sun began to set, thousands of mourners observed the Janazah prayers led by the Mufti of Uganda before the late general was laid to rest at the Muslim cemetery near the main mosque in Adjumani Town. In a moving sermon, Sheikh Mubaje reminded mourners of the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), saying the good testimony people leave behind about the deceased is among the greatest honours a believer can receive.

“When a believer dies, and those left behind testify to his good character, it is a sign that Almighty Allah is pleased with that servant and has granted him Paradise. From all the tributes we have heard today about Gen. Moses Ali, we pray that Allah grants him forgiveness, abundant mercy and Jannat-ul-Firdaws,” the Mufti said.

The Mufti also thanked President Museveni for according Gen. Ali a state funeral and revealed that Muslim leaders had initially preferred to bury him much earlier in line with Islamic tradition. “We had wished that Gen. Ali be buried as soon as possible. However, we were informed that the President wanted the country to accord him a befitting state funeral. We therefore implore Muslims to treat this as an exceptional circumstance and not as a precedent. Our faith teaches us to bury the deceased without unnecessary delay whenever circumstances permit,” he said.

As Gen. Moses Ali was finally laid to rest, the tributes painted the portrait of a man remembered not only as a soldier and statesman, but also as a peacemaker, mentor, devout Muslim, farmer and community leader whose legacy will continue to shape Uganda long after his passing.