The search for retired Lieutenant General Peter Elwelu has taken another turn after Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba announced that security forces had arrested the former deputy army chief’s driver and recovered additional weapons.
In a statement shared on X, Gen Muhoozi said Elwelu had hidden guns and ammunition in different locations as security agencies continued efforts to establish his whereabouts. He also revealed that security forces had seized the last vehicle the retired general had reportedly been using.
“We have also arrested his driver and seized the last vehicle he was using,” Muhoozi wrote, without revealing the driver’s identity or where he was being held.
The army chief did not provide details about the latest weapons recovery, including the locations where the weapons were allegedly found or their quantities. He also did not disclose whether the arrested driver had been formally charged or explain what role investigators believe he may have played.
Muhoozi issued a warning to anyone who might be helping Elwelu, describing the retired officer as a fugitive and threatening serious consequences for those who assist him. He also thanked people in the Teso sub-region for providing information that could help security forces locate the former military commander.
The latest announcement follows an ultimatum issued by Muhoozi on October 27, 2026, in which he said security forces had recovered weapons from one of Elwelu’s homes in Teso. At the time, he warned that the retired general could be declared a rebel if he failed to surrender. He also announced the arrest of more than 20 former soldiers reportedly linked to Elwelu.
Muhoozi further announced that Elwelu had been stripped of his previous military rank of lieutenant general and reduced to the rank of private. The declarations have attracted attention because Elwelu is a retired senior military officer who previously held some of the country’s top army positions.
Elwelu served as Deputy Chief of Defence Forces from June 2021 to March 2024 after previously commanding the Land Forces. He retired from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces in August 2025. His current whereabouts remain unclear, while the allegations surrounding the weapons, arrests and ongoing pursuit have yet to be fully established through publicly available evidence.
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