SOROTI, Uganda — Ugandan security forces have arrested retired Lieutenant General Peter Elwelu in Soroti City over allegations that he was involved in subversive activities and plans to destabilise the eastern Teso sub-region, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has announced.
The arrest, confirmed on Monday evening, November 2, by UPDF spokesperson Colonel Chris Magezi, ends weeks of uncertainty surrounding the whereabouts of the former Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, who had reportedly gone into hiding amid an escalating dispute with the military leadership.
In a statement shared on X, Magezi said security forces had apprehended Elwelu in Soroti following an operation targeting alleged activities intended to undermine security in Teso.
“Renegade UPDF Officer Peter Elwelu has this evening been arrested by the security forces in Soroti City,” Magezi said.
He added that the retired general had been on the run over alleged involvement in activities aimed at destabilising the region.
The army spokesperson also claimed that security forces had recently recovered 15 firearms, military fatigues and two pickup trucks linked to Elwelu.
“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.
The military did not immediately disclose the precise circumstances of the arrest, where Elwelu was being detained or the specific offences he would face. It also did not provide further details about the alleged weapons recovery.
Arrest follows weeks of tension between Elwelu and military leadership
Elwelu’s arrest follows a public confrontation involving the retired officer and Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
On October 27, Muhoozi announced on social media that he had stripped Elwelu of his military ranks and demoted him to the rank of Private, describing him as a traitor and accusing him of activities against the government.
Muhoozi also claimed that security forces had arrested more than 20 former soldiers linked to Elwelu and recovered weapons allegedly concealed at different locations.
The public declaration raised questions about the legal procedure governing the demotion of a retired senior officer. The Daily Monitor reported that military law provides for formal procedures governing reductions in rank, including requirements for proceedings before a competent military court.
The UPDF had not, at the time of the arrest announcement, publicly provided details of any formal proceedings that would substantiate the purported demotion.
Elwelu’s reported disappearance followed the public accusations, with relatives telling the Daily Monitor that he had gone into hiding because he feared for his safety.
His arrest now places the allegations before the security and judicial institutions responsible for investigating and determining the matter.
Family disputes allegations surrounding Elwelu
The military’s allegations have contrasted with accounts from Elwelu’s family and some members of the Teso community, who have questioned the accusations against him.
His wife, Patricia Apolot, previously denied claims that her husband was organising an armed rebellion and disputed reports that security forces had recovered weapons from their home.
In an account published by New Vision, she said Elwelu had left for Kampala to pray and had not returned, while describing the security operation at their residence.
Relatives and community members have also described him as a man known locally for religious activities, community engagement and philanthropy.
The competing accounts have left important questions about the alleged weapons, their ownership and the nature of the activities attributed to the retired officer.
The UPDF’s latest statement claims that 15 firearms were recovered in his possession, but the circumstances and locations of the recovery have not been independently established in the available reporting.
Teso leaders raise concerns over threats and security operation
The unfolding dispute has also attracted criticism from some leaders and elders in the Teso sub-region, particularly following public threats against Elwelu.
Former State Minister for Works Musa Ecweru, who previously commanded the disbanded Arrow Boys militia, reportedly warned that Elwelu could be killed if security forces cornered him while he remained at large.
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The remarks prompted criticism from prominent Iteso leaders and elders, who urged that the matter be handled by the responsible security agencies and through due process.
The Observer reported that community leaders condemned Ecweru’s threats, arguing that the dispute should not be escalated through public statements that could heighten tensions in the region.
The concerns have emerged against the background of Teso’s history of insecurity, including the activities of armed groups and the efforts that followed to restore stability.
Who is Peter Elwelu?
Elwelu is a retired senior Ugandan military officer who previously served as Deputy Chief of Defence Forces and commanded the UPDF Land Forces.
He was appointed Deputy Chief of Defence Forces in June 2021, serving under General Wilson Mbadi, before Muhoozi replaced him in the military leadership changes announced in March 2024.
He subsequently retired from active military service in August 2025.
His arrest is therefore a significant development involving a former senior commander who occupied some of the highest positions in Uganda’s military establishment.
It also raises questions about the handling of alleged dissent and security threats involving former members of the country’s armed forces.
For now, the UPDF says Elwelu will be charged and prosecuted in court. However, the specific charges, the evidence to be presented and the date of his first court appearance had not been announced by Monday evening.
The allegations against him remain subject to investigation and judicial determination. His arrest does not in itself establish guilt.
