Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has reportedly announced that former Deputy Chief of Defence Forces Gen Peter Elwelu has been stripped of his military ranks and demoted to the lowest rank of private. The announcement has attracted widespread attention, given Elwelu’s long military career and the senior positions he previously held in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). Muhoozi reportedly described the former deputy army chief as a traitor, raising fresh questions about the circumstances surrounding the dramatic declaration.
Elwelu is one of Uganda’s veteran military officers who rose through the ranks after joining the UPDF in 1987. Over the years, he held several important positions within the military establishment, eventually becoming one of the country’s most senior army commanders. His career reached a major milestone when he was appointed Deputy Chief of Defence Forces in June 2021, placing him among the top officers responsible for the leadership and administration of the national army.
Before his appointment as deputy army chief, Elwelu served as commander of the UPDF Land Forces, a powerful position that placed him at the centre of the army’s operational activities. His experience and long service made him a prominent figure within the military. However, his time in the top leadership position came to an end in March 2024 when President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni appointed a successor, marking a significant change in the army’s command structure.
Following his departure from the deputy army chief position, Elwelu was assigned advisory responsibilities relating to the Teso and Karamoja sub-regions. The move marked a shift from his previous high-profile command role, although he remained associated with the country’s military establishment. The latest reported declaration by Muhoozi has now brought renewed attention to his standing within the UPDF, particularly because of the seniority he had attained during his decades of service.
The reported decision has also revived memories of earlier tensions between Muhoozi and Elwelu. In December 2024, Muhoozi publicly criticised the former deputy army chief and threatened to arrest him, attracting attention to the relationship between the two senior military figures. The latest remarks have therefore raised further questions about the nature of their disagreements and whether the reported demotion is connected to the earlier confrontation. However, the precise circumstances behind the latest announcement have not been independently established.
Elwelu was subsequently included among senior military officers scheduled for retirement. In August 2025, the Ministry of Defence confirmed his retirement during a send-off ceremony held at State House, Entebbe. His retirement makes the reported announcement of a demotion particularly significant, as questions remain about his current formal military status and the legal or administrative process through which such a decision could be implemented. An official explanation from the relevant military authorities would help clarify the matter.
In the same reported developments, Muhoozi claimed that more than 20 former soldiers had been arrested. However, details concerning their identities, the allegations against them and whether their cases are connected to Elwelu have not been clearly established. The claims have generated additional questions about the circumstances surrounding the reported arrests and whether the individuals involved face related accusations. Until further information is made public, the precise nature of these developments remains uncertain.
The reported stripping of Elwelu’s ranks has once again placed the former deputy army chief at the centre of public discussion about military leadership, discipline and accountability in Uganda. However, the announcement should be distinguished from a formally documented military decision until the UPDF or Ministry of Defence provides confirmation of its implementation and legal basis. For an officer who spent nearly four decades in military service and rose to one of the country’s highest army positions, any formal change to his rank would represent a major development in his military career.
About the Author
