KEY POINTS
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Uganda has arrested former deputy army chief Peter Elwelu over an alleged destabilisation plot.
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The military says it recovered 15 guns and other items allegedly linked to him.
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Elwelu’s family denies the allegations, while the former officer has not publicly commented.
Ugandan authorities have arrested former deputy military chief Peter Elwelu over allegations that he stockpiled weapons and planned activities to destabilise the government, days after he was stripped of his military rank.
Uganda has arrested retired Lieutenant General Peter Elwelu, a former deputy chief of defence forces and presidential adviser, over alleged involvement in activities aimed at destabilising the country.
Acting military spokesman Chris Magezi said Elwelu was arrested on Monday evening and would be charged in court. He described the former officer as a “renegade” and accused him of participating in subversive activities.
The arrest followed accusations by Uganda’s defence chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, that Elwelu had stockpiled weapons and organised activities against the government.
Kainerugaba, the son of President Yoweri Museveni, had ordered the former military officer to surrender, warning that anyone helping him evade arrest would face serious consequences.
Military says weapons were recovered
According to Magezi, security forces recently recovered 15 guns, military fatigues and two pickup trucks allegedly linked to Elwelu.
Kainerugaba also said authorities had recovered a substantial quantity of arms and ammunition from the former general’s residence.
The defence chief alleged that Elwelu was involved in plans to destabilise Teso, a region in eastern Uganda. He warned that the former officer could be declared a rebel if he failed to surrender.
Kainerugaba further announced that 20 former soldiers allegedly linked to Elwelu had been arrested.
The allegations have not been tested in court, and Elwelu has not publicly responded to the accusations. His family has rejected claims that he was planning an uprising against the government.
Family insists former general is innocent
Elwelu’s wife, Patricia Apolot, defended her husband, saying he loved Uganda and wanted to see the country remain peaceful.
She told local media that he was innocent and could not contemplate organising a rebellion against the government.
The family’s response contrasts with the military’s allegations of weapons stockpiling and plans to undermine state authority. Authorities have yet to present the allegations in court publicly, according to the report.
Elwelu’s rise through the military ranks
Elwelu rose to national prominence in 2016 when he oversaw a deadly military raid on the palace of a regional king accused of leading a separatist movement.
He subsequently became army chief before rising to the position of deputy chief of defence forces. He was later appointed a presidential adviser and retired from the military in August 2025.
His military career was also marked by international scrutiny. In May 2024, the United States imposed sanctions on him over alleged human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings attributed to government forces.
His arrest follows Kainerugaba’s recent decision to strip him of his lieutenant general rank and demote him to the rank of private, intensifying the dispute between the former senior officer and Uganda’s military leadership.
The case now raises questions about the allegations against Elwelu, the evidence gathered by security forces and the legal proceedings expected to follow his arrest.
