Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has escalated the military operation against retired Lt Gen Peter Elwelu, announcing the arrest of a driver linked to the former deputy army chief and the recovery of additional firearms and ammunition. Muhoozi stated that security forces had seized weapons allegedly hidden by Elwelu in different locations and impounded the last vehicle the retired general had been using.
Muhoozi did not identify the arrested driver, disclose the location of the arrest or provide details about the number and types of weapons recovered. He also did not publicly explain the evidence linking Elwelu to the alleged offences. The army chief extended his warning to anyone suspected of helping the retired general evade security forces, threatening serious consequences.
Muhoozi thanked supporters in eastern Uganda for providing information to security agencies. He expressed gratitude to those who have been giving information to security agencies, saying otherwise, "I thank all our supporters in Teso for all the information they are giving us." This suggests that the military operation has received some level of local support.
The latest announcement follows an October 27 ultimatum in which Muhoozi claimed that security forces had recovered weapons from one of Elwelu's homes in Teso. Muhoozi wrote that some of the arms 'Private Elweru' was stockpiling at one of his homes in Teso had been recovered. He then warned Elwelu that he had hours to surrender before being declared a rebel.
Two days later, Muhoozi had not publicly confirmed whether Elwelu had responded to the ultimatum or whether he had formally been declared a rebel. Reports indicate that Elwelu left Uganda amid concerns about his personal safety. His whereabouts remain uncertain, while Muhoozi has not disclosed the full evidence supporting the accusations of treachery and criminality.
Elwelu served as deputy CDF from June 2021 until March 2024, when President Yoweri Museveni reorganised the military leadership and appointed Muhoozi as army chief. He retired from active military service in 2025 after a career spanning nearly four decades. The retired general also commanded the November 2016 assault on the Rwenzururu Kingdom palace in Kasese, where more than 100 people were reportedly killed.
The latest operation puts a former senior military commander under intense pressure, with the threat now extending to anyone suspected of helping him. However, the circumstances surrounding the driver's arrest, the vehicle seizure and the alleged weapons stockpiles remain unclear. The military has yet to publish a detailed inventory of the recovered weapons or explain the legal process through which Elwelu could be declared a rebel.
Key points
- Muhoozi escalates operation against Elwelu with arrest of driver and seizure of vehicle and more guns.
- Elwelu's whereabouts remain uncertain amid reports he left Uganda due to personal safety concerns.
- Muhoozi warns of serious consequences for anyone aiding Elwelu's evasion of security forces.
