Dear Brothers and Sisters,Some forumists have said a few uncharitable things about Gen. Moses Ali. Ironically, this was in response to the story about the new developments at IUIU for which Gen. Moses Ali has worked tirelessly.
I wish to make a modest contribution to this debate by listing a few positive things that I know about him to dispel the wrong impression that some people might have formed about him as a result of those submissions:
Until a couple of years ago, Gen. Moses Ali was a Member of IUIU University Council and Chairman of the Finance Committee of the same University. He had been in this position for more than a decade. If there is any progress that the University registered during this period, I believe Moses Ali was part of the efforts that led to that progress.
- In the early nineties, in what came to be known as Haq saga when the former IUIU Rector from Bangladesh tried to kick out some senior Ugandan administrators from the University including Dr. Sengendo and Mr. Haruna Chemisto , Gen. Moses Ali was at the forefront of those who stood their ground and resisted this unfair dismissal. The saga ended by the dismissal of Prof. Haq instead.
A few years ago when government was closing its diplomatic Missions abroad due to budgetary constraints and Riyadh Mission was among those lined up for closure, Gen. Moses Ali is reported to have single handedly defended it during the Cabinet meetings that considered the matter. His core argument was that this Mission served Muslim Pilgrims to Makkah and that it would be unfair to them to close it. Riyadh Mission survived while Missions such as Paris. Bonn, Havanah and Lusaka were closed (though some of them have since been re-opened.)
During his tenure as a Minister of Tourism, several deserving Muslims from all parts of Uganda were appointed to serve on various Boards of government parastatals and institutions under the Ministry. I have a feeling that the good General had a hand in it. Of those I can remember are Mr. Chemisto from Kapchorwa and Hajj Kajoba from Kasawo, Bugerere who served on the Board of Uganda Wild Life Authority or whatever body was in charge of wildlife then. Another is Ms. Fatuma Nsereko, a lecturer at IUIU then who served on the Board governing Sheraton Hotel (Before its privatization).
- Those are only a few things I can recall in the last 15 years. However as we all know, Gen. Ali served in Amin government as a Minister of Finance under whose docket fell the responsibility to distribute the properties and businesses of the departed Asians. Many people who were old enough then talk highly of his even-handedness in the distribution of these properties and of his efforts to empower Muslims to do business. Not to mention the ease with which performed Hajj at that time thank to the foreign exchange afforded by the Ministry of Finance.
I have met many people from West Nile and elsewhere who owe their education to Gen. Moses Ali.While I do not know the extent of his role in the ongoing unfortunate developments in IUIU, I think it is only fair to acknowledge that he is an elder in the community and has made substantial contribution to its development. As such, he deserves our respect.
Abdunur Sekindi
UMBS forumist in Jeddah
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I don’t believe in allegations attributed to Moses All on Dr Ssegendo. If it is true, then that is baaaadahhhhhh.
True to the words of sekindi, let us acknowledge that he is an elder in the community and has made substantial contribution to its development. As such, he deserves our respect.
If we are to give our time to reflect back, Gen. Alli,has contributed greatly not only to Muslims but all Ugandans. His joining of NRM, Ugandans and Muslims has greatly attained a lot. One of my brothers was thinking aloud and said that the contributions of our Late Brother Ghadif(May Allah reward him for his good deeds while with us and forgive him for what could have escaped his state of mind while still with us)in Uganda could have been a result of Gen Alli efforts.
Issa Kirarira
In addition to Mr. Abdunuru Sekindi’s Article and the comment on the same by Issa Kirarira, it provoked me to make research on the bereted General and the following are my findings.
1. In the 70’s, the General was reported to be chairman of the fund raising committee for building the national mosque and head quarters of UMSC.
2. By 1979, the committee had raised funds, part of which was used to raise the foundation for the mosque which the now deceased Gadaffi took over construction of.
3. As Minister of Tourism in this present government, the General worked hard to acquire the title for the muslim land upon which the mosque stands till now.
4. As minister of finance in the 70’s, he was reported to have extended a hand of assistance to many Ugandans both muslims and non muslims alike.
5. In 1975, the General delivered a letter to king Faisal of Saudi from General Amin and it was that letter which prompted the King to grant 15 million dollars as a loan and grant to Uganda prior to his assassination.
6. Part of that money was used to put up Kibul Teacher training center as it was then known.
7. As minister of finance, the General received 10 million Dollars on behalf of the ministry to establish the Islamic university in Uganda and deposited the money with Bank of Uganda. Part of the money was used to secure a site for an IUIU campus branch in west Nile and the rest was used for the construction of the university.
8. The General, as MP in the 7th parliament successfully defended a loan for IUIU against opposition in Parliament.
9. The General as Chairman of the finance committee was uncomfortable about the excessive power wielded by the rector and on the use of the finance of IUIU.
10. According to Asuman Kiyingi, state minister of foreign affairs, he was frustrated by the current IUIU administration and he faulted the manner in which the recruitment of staff was done and management of the finances and that both leave a lot to be desired.
What role does the General play in this comment?
11. According to my findings, it’s unbelievable to associate the General with the current confusion in IUIU which is diverting most members of the ummmah in Uganda and the Diaspora from the actual problems which the state minister posed, as seen above.
This prompts me to pose the question that why has it taken the General this long (four years) after his exit from the post of chairman and member of the finance committee to raise this issue if he was involved?
12. Furthermore in 1998-1999, there was tension between the muslim community and the government intelligence system of Uganda. The latter was accusing the muslim community of recruiting young muslims to join the ADF through madarasats in various posts and that prompted the General, according to my findings to visit several mosques in the country preaching the danger of recruiting young muslims to joining the ADF’s, if the allegations were true. During that time, majority of high profile muslims were under surveillance by the intelligence system in Uganda.
13. The outcome of the visits offered forum for the muslim community to deny that there were recruitment of people and that madarasats started long before ADF’s inception.
14. During the last IUIU council meeting in February that was held in kampala, Hon. Asuman Kiyingi, as head of government delegation to the council, proposed to the council that it should establish a commission of inquiry to investigate the mismanagement of IUIU, but the proposal was rejected by the council.
What were they afraid of finding after the commission of inquiry lifted the veil on the issue of mismanagement of IUIU?
Sadat Gore
A correction to be made in regard to the grant and loan from King Faisal which was 50 million dollars and not 15 million dollars as earlier stated.
Sadat Gore
salaam to all of you,we all agree the general has contributed a lot to the ummah by utilising the various positions he has held fo all this long BUT he should also come out and explain to the public the allegations against him,any way as the muslim community we trust the general more than Kiyingi,who is kiyingi as far as national muslim issues are concerned,he is so self interested a and thinks of pleasing the president all the time,to beleive in him it will take so long.