Retired Lt. Gen. Peter Elwelu
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I The security sweep that had gripped the Teso sub-region for several days culminated on Monday evening, November 2, 2026, with the arrest of retired Lt. Gen. Peter Elwelu in Soroti City, ending an intense intelligence manhunt over allegations that he was plotting to launch a rebellion against the government.
Peter Elwelu
The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) confirmed that joint security forces apprehended the former Deputy Chief of Defence Forces following accusations that he was involved in subversive activities and plans to destabilise the Teso sub-region.
Col. Chris Magezi, the Acting Director of Defence Public Information (DDPI), announced the arrest, saying security forces had been pursuing Elwelu after he reportedly went on the run.
“Renegade UPDF Officer Peter Elwelu has this evening been arrested by the security forces in Soroti City,” Magezi said.
“Elwelu has been on the run over involvement in subversive activities and plans to destabilize Teso,” he added.
The arrest followed days of heightened military activity across Teso, as intelligence and security teams intensified operations targeting individuals and networks suspected of being connected to the former army commander.
The operation came after Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba accused Elwelu of plotting to rebel against the government and destabilise the region. The allegations triggered a manhunt that saw security agencies conduct a series of raids and arrests as they sought to establish the extent of the alleged network.
Before Elwelu’s arrest, security forces reportedly recovered 15 firearms, military uniforms and two pickup trucks allegedly linked to him. Magezi confirmed the recovery of the weapons and other equipment, although the army did not provide details about where the items were found or the circumstances under which they were recovered.
“The security forces recently recovered 15 guns in his possession, military fatigues, and two pickup trucks,” Magezi said.
The recoveries were among the developments that heightened tension in the region and reinforced the military’s efforts to locate the retired general.
In the days leading to the arrest, Gen. Muhoozi announced that more than 20 former soldiers who had previously served under Elwelu had been detained. Their arrests were presented as part of the wider operation to dismantle what security authorities suspect was a network associated with the alleged rebellion.
Other reports indicated that security personnel had also arrested Elwelu’s wife, his driver and a local witchdoctor as investigations widened. However, the circumstances surrounding the reported arrests and the specific allegations against those individuals had not been fully disclosed.
Elwelu’s wife, Apolot, had earlier rejected claims that security forces recovered weapons from their home, disputing accounts that linked the household to the alleged military plot.
The search for the former deputy army chief also attracted public attention after local auxiliary commanders, including Musa Ecweru of the Arrow Boys, reportedly mobilised law enforcement to help track him down.
The sustained operations across Teso created an atmosphere of uncertainty as residents followed developments surrounding the former senior military officer. His eventual apprehension in Soroti brought the immediate manhunt to an end, although investigations into the alleged activities are continuing.
Military sources indicated after the arrest that Elwelu was being held at a secure facility as joint security teams finalised investigations ahead of his anticipated arraignment before the General Court Martial.
However, the UPDF had not disclosed the exact location of his detention, the precise charges he would face or when he would be presented before the military court.
Magezi said the former general would be prosecuted over the alleged activities, adding that the matter would be handled through the courts.
“He will be charged and prosecuted in the courts of law accordingly,” he said.
The arrest marks a dramatic turn in the fortunes of a former senior military officer who once occupied one of the most influential positions in the country’s armed forces.
Elwelu served as Deputy Chief of Defence Forces until March 2024, when changes in the military leadership saw him leave the position. He subsequently remained a prominent figure in discussions surrounding the military’s leadership and its internal affairs.
His latest troubles began after Gen. Muhoozi publicly accused him of involvement in activities aimed at undermining government stability. The CDF also claimed that Elwelu had been reduced to the rank of private, an announcement that further intensified public interest in the dispute.
The allegations have nevertheless been contested by Elwelu’s family, and the claims of rebellion have not been established in court. His arrest should therefore be distinguished from a finding of guilt, with the former general entitled to have the accusations tested through the legal process.
For now, the focus shifts from the intelligence operation that led to his capture to the investigations and possible prosecution that will determine the next phase of the case.
The military has yet to provide a comprehensive account of the alleged rebellion, including the identities and respective roles of those suspected of participating in it, the intended targets or the evidence linking Elwelu to the alleged plans.
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