Every UPDF Gen Will Undergo a Psychiatric Evaluation to Determine if They Are Mad or Not? We Will Not Have Another Loony Like Elweru – Says Gen Muhoozi

Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has announced that officers seeking promotion to the rank of General in the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) will undergo psychiatric evaluations as part of the proposed changes to the military's senior leadership requirements. His remarks came alongside a statement that all senior officers would be expected to take annual fitness tests.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Muhoozi said the psychiatric assessments would be intended to determine whether officers were mentally fit before being promoted to the highest military ranks. He linked the announcement to former Deputy Chief of Defence Forces Gen Peter Elwelu, whom he referenced in a controversial remark.

“We will not have another loony like Elweru,” Muhoozi wrote, using language directed at the former senior officer. The statement reflects Muhoozi's own characterization and does not establish that Elwelu has undergone a psychiatric assessment or received any mental health diagnosis.

The army chief also announced that annual fitness tests would be required for all senior UPDF officers. However, he did not explain the specific fitness standards, the procedures for conducting the tests or the consequences officers might face if they failed to meet the requirements.

The proposed psychiatric evaluations have drawn attention because they would introduce a mental health assessment into the process of promoting officers to the rank of General, if formally implemented. Muhoozi's post did not clarify whether the announcement represents an approved military policy or whether additional guidelines will be issued.

The remarks come amid continued public exchanges involving Muhoozi and Gen Elwelu, whose name has featured in recent statements by the military chief. Muhoozi previously said he wanted soldiers to bring Elwelu to him alive because he wanted to speak with him, although details surrounding the reported instruction remain unclear.

The announcement has also brought attention to the broader question of medical and physical fitness requirements for senior military commanders. Such assessments can be relevant to demanding leadership positions, but the UPDF's existing promotion procedures and the extent to which psychiatric evaluations are already used were not explained in Muhoozi's post.

For now, further clarification is needed on whether the proposed measures will be formally adopted, when they would take effect and how they would be administered. Muhoozi's statement has nevertheless placed the proposed screening of future generals and annual fitness tests for senior officers at the centre of public discussion about the military's leadership standards.