Elweru Should Surrender Soon to Save His Own Life, Says Gen Muhoozi as He Announces Arrest of 20 Allies

Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has issued a fresh warning to Gen Peter Elwelu, saying the former senior military officer should surrender soon to save his life. Muhoozi also announced that more than 20 former soldiers associated with Elwelu had been arrested, adding another development to the unfolding situation surrounding the former general.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Muhoozi stated that security forces had arrested more than 20 of Elwelu’s former soldiers. He claimed that the individuals were cooperating with authorities during questioning. However, details about their identities, the circumstances of their arrests and the specific allegations against them were not provided in his statement.

Muhoozi further claimed that the detained former soldiers agreed with his assessment of Elwelu, alleging that the general had experienced serious problems for a long time. The CDF wrote: “We have arrested over 20 of Elweru's former soldiers. They are co-operating well. They all agree he went insane a long time ago. Elweru should SURRENDER soon in order to save his own life.” These remarks represent Muhoozi’s claims and do not independently establish the truth of the allegations about Elwelu’s mental state.

The warning has placed renewed attention on Elwelu, a former senior UPDF officer whose name has recently featured in reports about changes within Uganda’s military leadership. Muhoozi’s call for him to surrender suggests that the military chief believes there is an unresolved matter requiring Elwelu to present himself to the authorities. However, the statement does not explain the precise circumstances behind the demand or establish what charges, if any, Elwelu faces.

The announcement follows another post in which Muhoozi declared that Elwelu had been stripped of his military ranks and demoted to Private. The declaration has raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the decision, particularly because Elwelu previously served as Deputy Chief of Defence Forces before leaving the position in 2024. The legal and administrative implications of the announced demotion have not been fully clarified.

The developments have also revived public interest in the relationship between Muhoozi and Elwelu, whose disagreements have previously surfaced on social media. Muhoozi’s latest statements suggest an escalation in the dispute, although the precise allegations behind the reported arrests and demand for surrender remain unclear. Elwelu’s response to the latest claims had not been established at the time of writing.

Meanwhile, questions remain about the identities of the arrested former soldiers, the offences they are suspected of committing and the evidence being gathered by investigators. Muhoozi has said the individuals are cooperating, but no detailed public account of their statements or the allegations against them has been provided. The claims surrounding the arrests and Elwelu’s situation therefore require further clarification from the relevant authorities.

As the situation develops, attention will be on whether Elwelu responds to the surrender demand and whether the UPDF issues a more detailed explanation of the reported arrests and changes to his military status. For now, Muhoozi’s warning has placed the former deputy army chief at the centre of a growing military controversy, with further developments expected to clarify the circumstances surrounding the dispute.