Retired Lieutenant General Peter Elwelu
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I The Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) has accused retired Lieutenant General Peter Elwelu of using Christian fundamentalism to conceal an alleged plot to launch an armed rebellion against President Yoweri Museveni’s government, escalating tensions between the former deputy army chief and the military leadership.
Andrew Mwenda, the PLU spokesperson, made the allegations in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, as the security forces intensified their pursuit of the retired general.
“Private Elwelu had been hiding behind Christian fundamentalism to disguise his plans for a rebellion against the state. Now he is on the run, and Christ won’t protect him from his plots to violently destabilize Uganda,” Mwenda wrote.
The allegations introduce a religious dimension to the unfolding confrontation, with the PLU suggesting that Elwelu’s public expressions of Christian faith were being used to disguise intentions to organise an armed uprising.
However, Mwenda did not provide details of how Elwelu allegedly used his religious beliefs to organise a rebellion or identify the group he was suspected of working with.
The allegations had not been independently verified by the time of publication, and Elwelu had not publicly responded to the claims.
Muhoozi Strips Elwelu of Military Rank
The accusations followed a series of public statements by Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who declared Elwelu a traitor and demanded that he surrender to security forces.
On Tuesday, Muhoozi announced that he had stripped the retired officer of his military ranks and demoted him from Lieutenant General to Private.
“The traitor Peter Elwelu is hereby stripped of his ranks. He is demoted to Private,” Muhoozi wrote on X.
The army chief also disclosed that security forces had arrested more than 20 former soldiers who had served under Elwelu. He said the suspects were cooperating with investigators and urged the retired general to surrender, warning him to save his life.
The developments have placed Elwelu at the centre of serious allegations involving national security, although the public statements have not provided independently verified evidence establishing his involvement in a rebellion plot.
Muhoozi has also published photographs of weapons and ammunition reportedly recovered from Elwelu’s residence in Teso. The weapons stockpiling allegations have added to the security concerns surrounding the former commander.
However, the circumstances surrounding the reported recovery, the ownership of the weapons and their alleged connection to a rebellion had not been independently established in the information made public.
Former Deputy Army Chief’s Military Career
Elwelu previously served as commander of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Land Forces before becoming deputy CDF.
In March 2024, President Museveni removed him from the deputy CDF position and appointed Lieutenant General Sam Okiding as his replacement. Elwelu was subsequently appointed senior presidential adviser on Teso and Karamoja affairs.
His military career has also been marked by controversy over the November 2016 operation against the Rwenzururu Kingdom palace in Kasese District.
The operation left more than 100 people dead and drew scrutiny over the conduct of security forces under his command. In 2024, the United States imposed visa restrictions on Elwelu over alleged gross human rights violations linked to the operation.
The latest accusations represent another major controversy involving the retired general, who has previously held senior positions within the military establishment.
More Former Soldiers Arrested as Search Intensifies
The reported arrest of more than 20 former soldiers linked to Elwelu suggests that investigations have extended beyond the retired officer to people who previously served under his command.
According to Muhoozi, the suspects were cooperating with investigators, although details of their alleged activities and the evidence collected against them had not been publicly disclosed.
The CDF’s demand that Elwelu surrender indicates that security authorities consider the matter serious. Nevertheless, the allegations against the retired officer remain claims that require substantiation through a transparent investigative and legal process.
Mwenda’s statement also reflects the PLU’s position on the matter. The organisation, led by Muhoozi, has portrayed Elwelu as a suspected threat to state security while questioning the sincerity of his public religious identity.
Elwelu’s whereabouts remained unconfirmed at the time of publication, and he had not issued a public response to the allegations.
About the Author
