Adjumani, Uganda: The State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs, Hon. Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, has appealed to warring factions within the NRM leadership in Adjumani District to bury their hatchets and rally behind the legacy of Gen. Moses Ali.
Addressing thousands of NRM supporters at Paridi Stadium on Thursday, July 10, Hon Balaam emphasized the need for unity among party leaders torn apart by internal rivalry. The district is now split into three rival camps, one loyal to Gen. Moses Ali, another to Woman MP Hon. Jesca Ababiku, and a third aligned with aspiring district chairperson Mr. Akuku Ap Richard.
“I am here to honour a legend, a tried and tested leader, a friend of President Yoweri Museveni, and the man who bridged the gap between Northern Uganda and the rest of the country,” Hon Balaam declared to a cheering crowd.
“You don’t abandon your father because he is old. You will not have peace if your father goes to the grave with a grudge.”
Balaam further noted that Gen. Moses Ali invited him to address the people of Adjumani to affirm the respect he commands across Uganda for his integrity, honesty, and corruption-free leadership throughout his decades in public service.
He dispelled rumours that his visit was meant to campaign for Gen. Ali, saying, “I am not here to campaign but to thank him for what he has done for our country, Uganda.”
He described Gen. Ali as a rare leader who has never been involved in corruption, scandals, or controversial politics, and whose legacy should be celebrated rather than fought over. “He is transparent, honest, not a womanizer, and by all standards, a protagonist and statesman,” Balaam said.
A Moment of Reconciliation
In a symbolic gesture of unity, Hon Balaam invited Hon. Jesca Ababiku to offer a reconciliatory handshake to Gen. Moses Ali, an act that drew thunderous applause from the crowd that filled Paridi Stadium to capacity.
Ababiku, responding with grace, acknowledged Gen. Ali’s contributions and committed to working together for the good of Adjumani. “He is the father of Adjumani and Uganda. Let us all respect the promises we have made here today before Minister Balaam and our people,” she said.
Chief Opi Drani Stephen of the Palanyua Clan urged leaders to uphold the vows made at the rally, warning that any betrayal would be judged not just by the people, but by God.
The rally, which drew an unprecedented crowd, was attended by all NRM aspirants, elected leaders, religious and cultural heads, and Adjumani West MP Hon. Mamawi James.
The Enduring Legacy of Gen. Moses Ali
Gen. Moses Ali, a revered figure in Adjumani and a pillar in Uganda’s political evolution, served in the National Resistance Council from 1988 to 1996 and has held multiple terms as MP. Despite a brief political setback in 2006 during the Northern Uganda political wave, he returned to Parliament in 2011 and continues to serve.
Hon Balaam hailed him as a key contributor to Cabinet policy decisions and a steady voice for Northern Uganda. “Gen. Ali is a national treasure whose contributions deserve celebration, not division,” he stressed.
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