KAMPALA — Former NRM Vice Chairman for Eastern Uganda, Capt. Mike Mukula, has hosted long-time friend and veteran statesman Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Moses Ali, the former Second Deputy Prime Minister, in a gathering that underscores a bond spanning decades.
The meeting comes as Gen. Ali, 87, begins another term as MP for Adjumani West County in the 12th Parliament, cementing his place as one of Uganda’s longest-serving public figures.
Friendship Beyond Politics
Mukula and Gen. Ali share a relationship that has outlasted Uganda’s shifting political tides. In 2002, Gen. Ali publicly testified that Mukula reached out to him with concern after a defamatory article was published — evidence of a bond rooted in genuine care, not political expediency.
Mukula, who recently withdrew from the NRM Vice Chairman race on principle against voter bribery, has consistently championed integrity. His decision to honor Gen. Ali signals respect for those who laid the nation’s foundation.
A Life of Service
Gen. Ali’s legacy is unmatched. A lawyer by training, he served in the Amin government, later led the Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRF) in rebellion against Obote, and in 1986 negotiated a peace deal with President Museveni — integrating his forces into the national army.
He has since held multiple ministerial portfolios, including Internal Affairs, Tourism, and Deputy Prime Minister. His career spans military officer, rebel commander, peace broker, and senior statesman — a rare feat in African politics.
While Gen. Ali’s age has sparked debate on leadership renewal, his presence in Parliament is viewed by many as a stabilizing force — a living link to the peace accords that ended decades of conflict.
For Mukula, the meeting is a reminder that true leadership honors history while building the future. Their friendship, he suggests, is proof that some bonds are truly forever.
