In Summary: Retired Lieutenant General Peter Elwelu, Uganda’s former Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, has been arrested in Soroti City following a security manhunt over alleged plans to destabilise the Teso sub-region. The military says 15 guns, military fatigues and two pickup trucks were recently recovered in connection with him.
Soroti City, Uganda — Security forces have arrested retired Lieutenant General Peter Elwelu, Uganda’s former Deputy Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), over alleged involvement in subversive activities and plans to destabilise the Teso sub-region.
The arrest was announced on Monday evening, November 2, by Col Chris Magezi, the Acting Director of Defence Public Information at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
“Renegade UPDF Officer Peter Elwelu has this evening been arrested by the security forces in Soroti City,” Magezi said.
In a statement shared via X, Col Magezi described Elwelu as a renegade former military officer and said he had been on the run as security agencies pursued investigations into alleged activities targeting stability in Teso, and that 15 guns, military fatigues, and two pickup trucks recovered recently were allegedly linked to the retired general.
“The security forces recently recovered 15 guns in his possession, military fatigues, and two pickup trucks. He will be charged and prosecuted in the courts of law accordingly,” Magezi said.
Col Magezi’s announcement did not disclose the precise circumstances of the arrest, where Elwelu was being held or the specific offences he would face.
However, Daily Monitor reported that military sources indicated he was being held at a secure facility as joint security teams finalised investigations ahead of an expected appearance before the General Court Martial.
Arrest follows days of public accusations
Gen Elwelu’s arrest follows a series of public statements by Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who accused the retired general of involvement in activities threatening national security.
On October 27, Gen Muhoozi announced on his official X account that he had stripped Elwelu of his military ranks and reduced him to the rank of Private.
In the same series of posts, the CDF said security forces had arrested more than 20 former soldiers who had previously served under Elwelu, claiming that they were cooperating with investigators. He also urged the retired general to surrender, warning that he should do so to save his life.
The public accusations came as the military investigated reports that Elwelu was allegedly mobilising former members of the Arrow Boys, a community defence force that emerged in Teso during the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency.
A report published by New Vision on October 28 said security sources alleged that Elwelu was attempting to mobilise through the defunct Arrow Boys structures and that some suspected fighters had been transported to Kampala.
The Arrow Boys were formed in 2003 after the LRA intensified attacks in Teso, with local men and youth organising to defend their communities against the insurgents. The group played a role in the region’s resistance to the LRA before being demobilised.
On October 29, Muhoozi announced that security forces had arrested Elwelu’s driver and seized another vehicle allegedly used by the retired general.
He also claimed that additional guns and ammunition had been recovered from locations where Elwelu had allegedly concealed them, although he did not disclose the quantities or precise locations of those recoveries.
Who is Peter Elwelu?
Elwelu is a retired three-star general who rose through the ranks of the UPDF over a military career spanning nearly four decades.
Born on June 12, 1966, in present-day Kalaki District, formerly part of Soroti District, he joined the military in the late 1980s and went on to hold several senior command positions.
He served as commander of the UPDF’s 2nd Division before becoming commander of Land Forces in January 2017, a position he held until June 2021.
On June 24, 2021, he was appointed Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, serving under then CDF Gen Wilson Mbadi.
However, in March 2024, President Yoweri Museveni made changes to the military leadership, appointing Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba as CDF and Lt Gen Sam Okiding as his deputy. Elwelu was moved from the deputy CDF position and appointed Senior Presidential Adviser.
In July 2024, Museveni assigned him additional responsibilities to monitor government activities in the Teso and Karamoja sub-regions.
Elwelu subsequently retired from the UPDF in August 2025 alongside six other senior generals during a retirement ceremony presided over by Museveni at State House Entebbe. He said at the time that he was retiring after more than 39 years of service.
Elwelu’s military career also attracted significant international scrutiny over his command role during the November 2016 security operation against the Rwenzururu Kingdom in Kasese.
At the time, he was commanding the UPDF’s 2nd Division. The operation involved security forces raiding the palace of Rwenzururu King Charles Wesley Mumbere following deadly clashes in the area.
Human Rights Watch documented killings during the November 26 and 27, 2016 operations and called for an independent investigation into the conduct of security forces.
On May 30, 2024, the United States announced visa restrictions against Elwelu over allegations of extrajudicial killings committed by UPDF personnel under his command. The restrictions made him ineligible for entry into the United States.
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