Ugandan authorities have arrested former deputy army chief Peter Elwelu over allegations of involvement in activities intended to destabilise parts of the country.
The three-star general, who served as Uganda’s deputy chief of defence forces from 2021 to 2024, was taken into custody on Monday, November 2, according to military officials.
The arrest follows accusations by Uganda’s current military leadership that Elwelu was involved in activities threatening national security.
However, the allegations have not been independently substantiated, and Elwelu’s family has denied any wrongdoing.
Uganda military confirms Peter Elwelu’s arrest
Military spokesperson Colonel Chris Magezi confirmed that security forces had detained Elwelu following a search operation.
According to the military, the former senior officer was suspected of planning activities aimed at destabilising an area of eastern Uganda where he was born and raised.
Magezi alleged that security forces had recovered 15 firearms, military uniforms and two pickup trucks connected to Elwelu.
However, authorities have not publicly presented evidence establishing his involvement in the alleged activities.
The former deputy army chief was reportedly being held at an undisclosed location under military custody.
Details about any formal charges or upcoming court proceedings were not immediately available.
Elwelu’s family denies allegations
Elwelu could not be reached for comment following his detention.
However, his wife told local media that her husband was innocent, according to reporting cited by the BBC.
The arrest has raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the investigation and the legal process facing the former military commander.
Ugandan authorities have not publicly provided detailed evidence supporting the accusations.
The allegations therefore remain unproven.
Under internationally recognised fair-trial principles, individuals accused of criminal offences are presumed innocent until proven guilty through appropriate legal proceedings.
Military chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba ordered search
The arrest follows public accusations by Uganda’s military chief, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Kainerugaba had accused Elwelu of engaging in activities he described as treacherous following his retirement from active military service.
He also said he had instructed security forces to capture the former commander alive.
According to the BBC, Kainerugaba announced last week that he had stripped Elwelu of his lieutenant general rank.
He also disclosed the arrest of 20 former soldiers allegedly connected to Elwelu.
The circumstances of those arrests and the evidence supporting the allegations have not been independently established.
It was not immediately clear whether the detained former soldiers had been formally charged.
Previous disagreements within Uganda’s military
Elwelu previously served as commander of Uganda’s land forces before becoming deputy chief of defence forces.
During his military career, he reportedly disagreed with Kainerugaba over certain military operations.
Those differences led to a meeting mediated by President Yoweri Museveni, according to reports.
However, there is no independently verified evidence establishing that the earlier disagreements were connected to the latest arrest.
Elwelu’s detention comes at a time of heightened attention to Uganda’s military leadership and political future.
Kainerugaba is the son of President Museveni and is widely discussed as a potential political successor.
Arrest comes amid Uganda’s political transition debate
President Museveni began his seventh consecutive presidential term in May 2026.
Several months later, Kainerugaba announced his intention to seek the presidency in the 2031 election.
The announcement increased attention on Uganda’s future political leadership and the military’s role in national affairs.
Uganda has not experienced a peaceful transfer of presidential power since independence in 1962.
However, the authorities have presented Elwelu’s arrest as a national security matter, and no direct connection to the upcoming presidential contest has been established.
Questions remain over investigation
The detention of a former deputy military chief is a significant development within Uganda’s security establishment.
Authorities have accused Elwelu of involvement in activities intended to destabilise part of eastern Uganda.
His family has rejected the accusations.
Meanwhile, information about the investigation, the conditions of his detention and possible legal proceedings remains limited.
Further details from the authorities, Elwelu’s legal representatives or the courts will be important in establishing the facts.
For now, the allegations against the former commander remain unproven as Uganda’s military authorities continue their investigation.