Kakwenza petitions court to block Gen. Moses Ali re-election to parliament over mental fitness

In a bold and unprecedented move, award-winning author and human rights lawyer Kakwenza Rukirabashaija has dragged one of Uganda’s longest-serving political titans to court challenging not his policies, but his mind.

The petition, now before the High Court in Kampala, seeks to block the candidature of Rt. Hon. Gen. Moses Ali from vying for the Adjumani West County seat in the upcoming 2025/2026 general elections.

Kakwenza argues that Gen. Ali, a senior figure in Ugandan politics and a celebrated historical figure, no longer possesses the cognitive competence required to serve effectively in Parliament.

Filed under Articles 50(1) and 137(3) of the Constitution, the petition is anchored on public interest grounds and touches on sensitive intersections between age, mental capacity, and the right to representation.

Kakwenza, known for his fearless pen and run-ins with state machinery, is again thrusting himself into Uganda’s legal and political spotlight—this time not as a detainee, but as a petitioner.

“This isn’t personal,” Kakwenza tells journalists. “It’s about protecting the integrity of our Parliament. The Constitution is clear—leaders must be of sound mind. If a person is no longer cognitively fit, the people they serve suffer the consequences.”

The petition names the Electoral Commission, Gen. Moses Ali, and the Attorney General as respondents. It invokes the Parliamentary Elections Act, the Leadership Code Act, and Uganda’s Constitution to seek injunctive and declaratory relief.

The central question: Is Gen. Moses Ali—once a towering force in Uganda’s liberation struggles—still mentally fit to represent over 100,000 constituents?

Critics say this case could open a legal Pandora’s box, potentially prompting scrutiny of other aging political figures. Supporters of Gen. Ali have dismissed the petition as ageist and politically motivated.

But legal experts suggest the court’s handling of the matter could set precedent for future vetting of candidates’ mental health—a subject Uganda’s electoral laws have historically tiptoed around.

As Uganda inches toward its next election, this case could become a litmus test for the nation’s willingness to confront uncomfortable truths about leadership, longevity, and the mental demands of public service.