Fresh details have emerged about the evidence security authorities could present against retired Lieutenant General Peter Elwelu as investigations into allegations of subversive activities and plans to destabilise the Teso sub-region continue. The former Deputy Chief of Defence Forces is reportedly facing a military court process, with authorities pointing to a collection of firearms, military equipment and vehicles allegedly linked to him.
According to the acting Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) spokesperson, Chris Magezi, security forces recently recovered 15 guns, military fatigues and two pickup trucks allegedly connected to the retired general. These items are now attracting attention because they could become important exhibits in the state’s case against one of Uganda’s former most senior military officers.
Magezi said Elwelu had been wanted over alleged involvement in subversive activities and plans to destabilise Teso. In his statement, the army spokesperson claimed that the retired general had been on the run before security forces moved to apprehend him. These allegations have placed the former military commander at the centre of an unfolding security investigation.
The reported recovery of 15 firearms is particularly significant because investigators could seek to establish who owned them, how they were acquired and whether they were intended for any activities that could threaten security. Military clothing and the two pickup trucks could also feature in investigations as authorities attempt to establish the circumstances surrounding the allegations.
However, several important details about the reported exhibits remain unclear. The specific types of firearms, their serial numbers, where exactly they were recovered and the circumstances under which security forces obtained them have not been independently established. It is also not yet clear whether the two vehicles are formally registered in Elwelu’s name.
Elwelu’s troubles come after Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba announced that the retired general had been stripped of his military ranks and medals. His subsequent arrest in Soroti City on November 2, 2026, marked another dramatic development in the unfolding situation involving the former deputy army chief.
The allegations have attracted considerable attention because Elwelu previously occupied one of the most powerful positions in Uganda’s military establishment. His military career and influence, particularly in eastern Uganda, have made the developments surrounding him a subject of national interest. The possibility of facing a General Court Martial has further raised questions about the evidence authorities intend to present.
For now, the reported 15 guns, military fatigues and two pickup trucks remain among the key items publicly mentioned by the army spokesperson. Whether they will ultimately be admitted as evidence and what they could establish will depend on the investigations and court proceedings. Elwelu remains entitled to defend himself, and the allegations against him have yet to be proven before a competent court.
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