Uganda, March 24 -- On the evening of March 21, President Museveni made a few changes to his Cabinet. Among the names that trended on social media following the announcement were that of 2nd Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Leader of Government Business in Parliament, Gen Moses Ali.

At 84 years of age and sometimes seen to be frail, many Ugandans using social media have resorted to conspiracy to explain why for years Gen Ali has been a permanent fixture in President Museveni's Cabinet.

Some say Ali has represented East Moyo in Parliament since the National Resistance Council days in 1989.

Yet if you wind back to 2006, Ali's political career seemed to have met its Waterloo moment. The results of the East Moyo parliamentary elections had...