Uganda Detains Former Deputy Military Chief Peter Elwelu Amid Accusations of Weapon Stockpiling
Former deputy army chief Peter Elwelu was arrested on Monday evening and faces charges for alleged subversive activities.
Bang! Uganda’s security apparatus moved swiftly on Monday evening, taking former deputy military chief and presidential adviser Peter Elwelu into custody.
Acting military spokesman Chris Magezi labeled the detained officer a “renegade” and announced that Elwelu will be charged in court.
The arrest follows a dramatic decree by defence chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who announced that Elwelu had been stripped of his lieutenant‑general rank and reduced to the rank of private.
Kainerugaba also accused Elwelu of amassing weapons and orchestrating activities aimed at destabilising the government, specifically in the Teso region of eastern Uganda.
According to Magezi, security forces recovered 15 guns, military fatigues and two pick‑up trucks from Elwelu’s possession.
The former deputy chief, who rose to prominence in 2016 after overseeing a raid on a regional king’s palace, later served as army chief, deputy chief of defence forces and presidential adviser.
In May 2024, the United States imposed sanctions on Elwelu for alleged human rights abuses, and he retired from the military in August 2025.
Kainerugaba warned that anyone assisting Elwelu in evading arrest would face “serious consequences” and said he had “hours to surrender before we declare him a rebel and deal with him.”
He also reported that 20 former soldiers allegedly linked to Elwelu have been arrested.
Elwelu’s family has rejected the allegations, and the former officer has not commented on the charges.
The case underscores a volatile moment in Uganda’s security and political landscape, with the government taking a hard line against perceived internal threats.
