Retired Lt Gen Peter Elwelu is in security custody after the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) accused him of involvement in activities intended to destabilise the Teso sub-region.
The army announced on Monday evening, November 2, that security forces had arrested the former Deputy Chief of Defence Forces in Soroti City.
In a statement posted on X, UPDF acting director of defence public information Col Chris Magezi said Elwelu had been wanted over alleged subversive activities and plans to destabilise Teso.
Magezi also said security forces had recently recovered 15 guns, military fatigues and two pickup trucks allegedly linked to the retired officer.
“He will be charged and prosecuted in the courts of law accordingly,” Magezi said.
The army did not disclose where the items were recovered, provide details of the alleged activities or specify the charges Elwelu would face.
Family disputes circumstances of arrest
The circumstances surrounding Elwelu’s detention have since become a subject of conflicting accounts.
While the military announced that security forces had arrested him after a manhunt, sources close to the retired general told Daily Monitor on Tuesday that he had voluntarily surrendered at his office in Soroti’s Senior Quarters on Monday evening.
A relative said Elwelu decided to hand himself over after consulting friends and community elders.
According to the relative, he presented himself to security operatives at about 8pm, rather than being captured during an operation.
The sources said he was initially taken to an army barracks before being transferred to Ateker Villa Hotel along the Soroti-Serere road.
The hotel is owned by Deputy Chief of Defence Forces Lt Gen Samuel Okiding.
The conflicting accounts have not been publicly reconciled by the UPDF.
The arrest followed weeks of security operations involving Elwelu’s residences in Soroti and Kalaki districts. His wife, Patricia Apolot, told New Vision that security operatives had restricted the family’s movements at their Awoja home, where personnel remained deployed.
The military has not provided a detailed public account of the searches or explained the circumstances surrounding the reported recovery of firearms.
Muhoozi had announced demotion
Elwelu’s detention follows public statements by Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who announced on October 27 that the retired officer had been stripped of his military ranks and demoted to private.
Kainerugaba also said more than 20 former soldiers associated with Elwelu had been arrested.
The announcements were made on X, with Kainerugaba accusing the former senior commander of disloyalty and demanding that he surrender.
The public declaration of Elwelu’s demotion raised questions about the procedures governing disciplinary action against senior military officers. Details of any formal proceedings were not provided in the announcement.
Elwelu previously served as Deputy Chief of Defence Forces and Commander of the UPDF Land Forces before moving into presidential advisory responsibilities.
He also commanded the November 2016 military operation at the Rwenzururu royal palace in Kasese, which left more than 100 people dead.
Teso leaders seek Museveni’s intervention
The arrest has prompted leaders in Teso to seek clarification from security agencies and President Yoweri Museveni.
David Calvin Echodu, the NRM vice-chairperson for the Eastern Region and Soroti City West MP, said regional leaders had begun consultations with relevant institutions to establish the details of the allegations.
In a statement posted on X on Tuesday, November 3, Echodu said the leaders had informed the President about concerns among residents.
He called for calm as consultations continued and urged authorities to conduct a speedy and transparent inquiry.
Soroti City Mayor Francis Esudu acknowledged that the arrest had created tension among residents but said normal business activities were continuing.
Vincent Emong, the chairperson of Obur Village in Awoja Parish, where Elwelu has a home, described the retired officer as a supportive member of the community.
“He has been a law-abiding person in my village, who has been supporting the elderly with food and even money,” Emong told New Vision.
The accounts from community members differ from the military’s allegations, which have not yet been tested in court.
Security operatives have also been reported at Elwelu’s residences in Awoja and Anyara, Kalaki District, as investigations continue.
The UPDF has not publicly disclosed the specific charges against the retired general or announced when he will be presented before a court.
