The arrest of retired Lieutenant General Peter Elwelu has reopened uncomfortable questions about one of Uganda’s most controversial military careers, bringing renewed attention to his role in past security operations, allegations of human rights violations and the latest accusations that he was plotting to destabilise the Teso sub-region.
Elwelu, who once occupied the powerful position of Deputy Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), was reportedly arrested in Soroti City in November 2026 following intelligence-led operations by Ugandan security forces. Authorities reportedly suspect him of involvement in subversive activities and alleged plans to destabilise Teso, accusations that his family disputes.
The arrest marks a dramatic turn in the career of a man who spent nearly four decades in the military, rising from a relatively humble background to become one of the country’s most senior and influential commanders.
Born on June 12, 1966, in Aloet Village, present-day Kalaki District, Elwelu joined the National Resistance Army (NRA) in 1987 after completing Senior Four at Kalaki Senior Secondary School.
His military journey took him through several combat operations, including engagements in the Democratic Republic of Congo and operations against the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), during which he was reportedly wounded.
In 2007, he commanded Uganda’s first military contingent deployed to Somalia under the African Union Mission in Somalia, helping establish his reputation within the country’s military establishment.
However, his legacy remains heavily overshadowed by the November 2016 military operation at the palace of Rwenzururu King Charles Wesley Mumbere in Kasese.
The operation, which followed escalating tensions between security forces and the royal guards, resulted in the deaths of more than 100 people, according to reported figures. Elwelu, who commanded the operation, subsequently became a subject of intense international criticism over allegations of excessive force and extrajudicial killings.
The United States sanctioned him in May 2024 over alleged human rights violations connected to the Kasese operation.
His controversial military record also includes the demolition of a revered Iteso cultural site, an incident that attracted anger and questions about the treatment of cultural institutions during security operations.
Despite the controversies, Elwelu continued climbing the military hierarchy. He commanded the UPDF Land Forces before President Yoweri Museveni appointed him Deputy Chief of Defence Forces in June 2021.
He served in that position until March 2024 before retiring from active military service in August 2025.
Now, barely more than a year after retirement, his name is back in the national security spotlight.
The allegations surrounding his arrest raise serious questions about what intelligence triggered the operation, who else could be implicated and whether investigators possess evidence linking the former general to the alleged destabilisation plans.
His family’s rejection of the accusations further complicates the unfolding situation.
For a former senior commander who once exercised enormous authority over Uganda’s military operations, the latest developments represent an extraordinary reversal of fortunes.
However, the critical questions remain unanswered: What exactly was Elwelu allegedly planning in Teso? What evidence do security agencies have? And will the authorities subject the former general to a transparent legal process?
Until investigators publicly establish the facts, the allegations remain accusations, not proven crimes.
