Former State Minister for Works Musa Ecweru has come under strong criticism from prominent leaders and elders in the Teso sub-region following his threats against retired Lieutenant General Peter Elwelu. The community leaders have condemned his remarks, arguing that threatening the former military commander could create unnecessary tension in a region that has endured years of armed conflict.
Ecweru, who previously served as Amuria County MP and commanded the disbanded Arrow Boys militia, reportedly gave Elwelu 24 hours to surrender to security authorities. He warned that the retired general risked being killed if security forces cornered him, insisting that he would not allow anyone to undermine the peace achieved in the Teso region.
The former minister also urged Elwelu to abandon any alleged plans to destabilise the region and surrender himself to Soroti Catholic Diocese Bishop Joseph Oliach Eciru. However, his choice of words has angered several community leaders, who believe that security matters should be handled by the institutions legally responsible for maintaining law and order.
Former Uganda ambassador to Nigeria Nelson Ocheger was among those who criticised Ecweru, questioning why he was making threats instead of allowing the UPDF and other security agencies to investigate the allegations. Ocheger said he had recently returned from Teso and had not witnessed the tension Ecweru appeared to be describing. He also accused the former minister of unnecessarily invoking the former Arrow Boys militia in a sensitive security matter.
Ocheger further warned against mobilising former fighters, arguing that bringing them into the current controversy could complicate the situation. He reminded leaders that Teso has a painful history of armed conflict that claimed lives, destroyed property and disrupted communities. He insisted that anyone suspected of wrongdoing should be subjected to investigations and due process rather than publicly condemned.
Another critic, Philip Engaru, a mechanical engineer based in Turin, Italy, and a native of Obalanga in Kapelebyong District, described Ecweru’s intervention as opportunistic. He questioned the former minister’s authority to portray Elwelu as a rebel, pointing out that the retired general served in the National Resistance Army. Former Kumi County parliamentary candidate Charles Opolot also criticised Ecweru, questioning his apparent attempt to speak on behalf of the entire Iteso community.
The controversy comes as Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba continues making serious allegations against Elwelu, accusing him of plotting against the government. Muhoozi has also claimed that more than 20 soldiers who previously served under the retired general have been arrested and are cooperating with investigators. He further announced that Elwelu had been stripped of his military ranks, although details surrounding the allegations and investigations have not been fully made public.
Elwelu has not publicly responded to the accusations, while reports indicate that his relatives have said he went into hiding over fears for his safety. The condemnation of Ecweru by Iteso leaders has now shifted attention to the need for restraint as the matter unfolds. Community elders want security agencies to handle the allegations professionally, warning that threats and inflammatory political statements could revive painful memories in a region that has worked hard to maintain peace.
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