Retired General Peter Elwelu, Uganda’s former Deputy Chief of Defence Forces and one-time senior military commander, is reportedly being held at the heavily secured Makindye Military Barracks, with Deputy Chief of Defence Forces Lieutenant General Sam Okiding confirming his detention.
The confirmation has intensified scrutiny of the circumstances surrounding Elwelu’s arrest and the growing controversy involving Chief of Defence Forces General Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Although Okiding has confirmed that the retired general is in military custody at Makindye, questions remain about the nature of the investigations, the specific accusations against him and what investigators hope to establish.
At the centre of the controversy are allegations by Muhoozi that Elwelu engaged in activities that threatened the security of President Yoweri Museveni’s government, including an alleged attempt to organise a coup against the Head of State.
The accusations reportedly stem from an incident in which Elwelu allegedly instructed Special Forces Command (SFC) personnel to move to what was described as “Standby Class One” while Museveni was reportedly outside the country in Rwanda.
Muhoozi is said to have viewed the military instruction with suspicion, allegedly interpreting it as part of a wider scheme to create instability and potentially overthrow his father’s government during his absence.
However, the interpretation of the standby order remains a critical issue in the unfolding saga. Its actual purpose, the circumstances under which it was issued and whether it had any connection to an attempted takeover of government have not been independently established.
No publicly available evidence has so far conclusively demonstrated that Elwelu was organising a coup.
The development is particularly striking given the retired general’s long history within the UPDF command structure. Elwelu previously served as Deputy CDF between 2021 and 2024 and held several influential military positions before leaving active service.
His detention has consequently opened a wider debate about divisions within Uganda’s military establishment, the handling of former senior commanders and the treatment of retired officers accused of serious security-related offences.
The confirmation by Okiding also puts the spotlight on Makindye Military Barracks, where the former army number two is reportedly being held as investigations continue.
Attention is now shifting towards the evidence security agencies intend to present, whether the alleged SFC standby instruction was irregular and what legal action could follow against the retired commander.
For a man who once occupied one of the most powerful positions in Uganda’s military hierarchy, Elwelu’s reported detention marks a dramatic turn of events.
But despite the seriousness of the allegations, the distinction between suspicion and proven wrongdoing remains important. Until authorities present verifiable evidence and establish the facts through the appropriate legal process, claims that Elwelu plotted to overthrow Museveni remain allegations, not proven offences.
