Kakwenza petitions court to nullify Gen Moses Ali’s candidacy on medical grounds
Exiled human rights activist Kakwenza Rukirabashaija and fellow activist Ssuuna James Kiggala have petitioned the Constitutional court, challenging the eligibility of Gen (Rtd) Moses Ali to contest as a member of parliament for Adjumani West in the 2026 general elections.
Through their lawyers, Kiiza & Mugisha Advocates, the petitioners argue that nominating the visibly frail and immobile 86-year-old retired general is unconstitutional and undermines the principles of effective representation and good governance as enshrined in Uganda’s 1995 Constitution.
According to the petition filed today, Tuesday, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) nominated Ali as its flag bearer on June 17, 2025, an action later endorsed by the Electoral Commission on October 22, 2025.
The activists claim that during both the party and national nominations, and in subsequent public appearances, Ali appeared unable to speak, walk, or move unaided, rendering the nomination, in their words, “a pitiable and unconstitutional spectacle.”
They describe the scenes as embarrassing, puzzling, and tear-jerking, arguing that the process mocked democratic values and the concept of meaningful representation. The petitioners contend that allowing a visibly incapacitated individual to represent a constituency in parliament effectively disenfranchises the voters of Adjumani West, denying them active participation in governance.
They insist that the duties of a legislator demand mental alertness, physical presence, and articulate engagement, qualities they claim the first respondent no longer possesses. The petition further faults the NRM, the Electoral Commission, and the Attorney General for what they describe as facilitating “a symbolic and perfunctory form of representation” that reduces parliament to a hollow institution.
In a supporting affidavit, Ssuuna Kiggala recounts that on June 17, 2025, Ali, also the 2nd Deputy Prime Minister, was nominated from his car due to ill health by NRM Electoral Commission chairperson Dr Tanga Odoi.
He adds that the primaries proceeded thereafter, with Ali declared the winner after garnering 8,609 votes. Later, the Adjumani district returning officer, Akao Eunice Christine, formally nominated him to defend his seat under the NRM ticket.
Kiggala references photographs allegedly showing the general’s fragile condition, describing the public display as a violation of constitutional dignity and accountability.
The petitioners argue that the participation of the NRM and the Electoral Commission in endorsing Ali’s candidacy contravenes Articles 1, 8A, 17, 38(1), 61, and 79 of the Constitution, which guarantee citizen sovereignty, accountability, and effective representation.
They assert that by endorsing his nomination, state institutions failed their constitutional duty to protect democratic integrity and instead turned leadership into a farce. Through their lawyers, the petitioners are seeking several declarations and orders from the Constitutional court, including a declaration that Ali’s candidacy and potential tenure as MP are unconstitutional, null, and void.
They also want the court to declare him unfit to serve due to visible physical incapacity, and to direct parliament and the Electoral Commission to establish minimum physical fitness standards for all candidates seeking elective office.
They further ask the court to issue a permanent injunction restraining Ali from serving as MP in his current condition, to order a by-election in Adjumani West Constituency, and to award them costs of the petition.
The activists emphasise that leadership should not be reduced to a ceremonial or sentimental gesture, insisting that Ugandans deserve leaders capable of meaningfully engaging in legislative duties.
The Constitutional court is expected to serve notices to Ali, the NRM, the Electoral Commission, and the Attorney General, requiring them to file responses within seven days. Failure to do so will allow the court to determine the matter in their absence.
The case comes amid preparations by the Electoral Commission to conduct Presidential and Parliamentary elections on January 15, 2026. Recently, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the NRM presidential flag bearer, was seen handing the party flag to Ali in Adjumani, a moment that drew widespread attention after images circulated online showing the President walking toward the seated general to hand over the flag, unlike other candidates who approached the podium themselves.
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