The arrest of retired Lieutenant General Peter Elwelu in Soroti City has opened a new chapter in Uganda’s unfolding military tensions, raising serious questions about the alleged activities that brought one of the country’s most senior former military commanders into direct confrontation with the security establishment.
According to Col. Chris Magezi, the Acting Director of Defence Public Information, Elwelu was arrested following an intelligence-led operation targeting what the military described as suspected subversive activities and alleged plans to destabilise the Teso sub-region.
Magezi’s announcement suggests that military intelligence had been monitoring the retired general before security forces finally moved in.
However, details surrounding the operation, including how Elwelu was tracked, the precise location of his arrest and whether he resisted capture, have not been publicly explained. The operation reportedly resulted in the recovery of 15 firearms, military uniforms and two pickup trucks allegedly connected to the suspected activities.
The military has yet to provide a detailed account of the weapons recovered, their ownership, registration or the circumstances under which they were found.
Elwelu’s arrest also follows weeks of escalating tension involving Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who had publicly made hostile remarks against the retired commander.
The confrontation attracted national attention after Muhoozi accused Elwelu of betrayal, threatened to strip him of his military status and suggested that he could face serious consequences if he failed to surrender.
The developments subsequently fuelled speculation about Elwelu’s whereabouts and his relationship with the current military leadership.In the days preceding the arrest, security operations reportedly targeted individuals believed to be associated with the former army commander.
More than 20 soldiers previously linked to Elwelu, alongside members of his personal staff, were reportedly detained as intelligence agencies investigated the alleged network.
The scale of the reported arrests raises questions about whether investigators had uncovered an organised operation or were conducting broader interrogations to establish the extent of Elwelu’s alleged connections.
Following his capture, Elwelu was reportedly transferred to a secure facility at Makindye Military Barracks in Kampala, where he is allegedly being held in a VIP section. He is expected to face proceedings before the General Court Martial, although authorities have not publicly disclosed formal charges.
For now, the biggest unanswered questions concern the evidence behind the allegations, the circumstances of the weapons recovery and whether Elwelu will receive an opportunity to defend himself through a transparent legal process.
His arrest could become one of the most consequential military cases involving a retired senior UPDF commander in recent years.
