Gen. Elwelu asks to retire from Army

KAMPALA - As the National Resistance Army (NRA) was dusting off the Luwero bush war trench dirt to transition into a professional army, a young man was enlisted in 1987. 

His name, Peter Elwelu, later became one of the major fixtures within the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) rank and file. 

From a graduate officer cadet trained at the Tanzania-based Monduli Military Academy, Elwelu rose through the ranks to one of the second-highest in the army — deputy Chief of Defence Forces — until he was dropped in March 2024. 

His rank also grew from cadet to lieutenant general. At the time he was dropped, insiders within the army said, he had issued a standby order class one to all officers, which caused what they described as “unnecessary tension” and “fear” within the country. 

Elwelu issued the order when his boss, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) at the time, Gen. Wilson Mbadi (now state minister for trade), was in Kenya on official duties.

Standby class one is the highest level of alertness within the military. It means that there should be no troop or equipment movement. 

Later in July 2024, he was appointed by President Yoweri Museveni to monitor government activities in Teso and Karamoja sub-regions. 

Yet, like they say, even the best dancer has to leave the stage at a certain point. 

Elwelu, who is also a UPDF MP, told New Vision on Friday (April 9) that he will be retiring from the army. Confirming the development, Elwelu said: “I have no major comment until July 31. In the army, we don’t make comments anyhow.” 

As part of the preparations for retirement, the UPDF, on May 5, organised a documentation and sensitisation workshop for Elwelu and 1,346 officers and militants of the UPDF at the Non-Commissioned Officers Academy (NCOA) in Jinja district. 

“A total of 1,346 officers and militants of the UPDF are undergoing sensitisation and documentation at NCOA Jinja in preparation for retirement scheduled for July 2025. We congratulate the officers and men of the gallant UPDF on reaching this signifi cant milestone,” UPDF said in a statement. 

In an interview with New Vision, Col Chris Magezi, the acting army spokesperson, said: “There are some offi cers due to retire. Some officers will retire in July. However, generals will retire in October. The captains and below will retire in July.” 

Magezi added that apart from Elwelu, other senior officers set to retire include the former UPDF commandant of the Senior Command and Staff College Kimaka in Jinja, Maj. Gen. George Igumba, and the former commandant of the National Defence College Uganda in Jinja, Maj. Gen. Francis Okello. 

Two weeks ago, the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, appointed Brig. Gen. Michael Kabango as the new commandant of the Senior Command and Staff College Kimaka in Jinja, replacing Igumba. The CDF also appointed Brig. Gen. 
Alex Opolot Olupot as the new commandant of the National Defence College Uganda in Jinja, replacing Okello. 

Elwelu’s retirement comes at the time when the country is gearing up for the 2026 general election. In fact, some people within Teso sub-region said the no-holds-barred military general, who became famous for commanding the Rwenzori operation in April 2016, could be eyeing a parliamentary seat in the region. 

However, some elders in Teso said the news of his retirement was shocking. 

“I least expected it from him considering the level of love Gen. Elwelu has for the army, and besides that, the army needs him the most because he is an intercessor of the army,” Joseph Linos Opio, the secretary of finance in Serere district, said. 

Yet Samuel Okello, the LC5 chairperson of Kalaki district, where Elwelu hails from, was instead happy that their son is going to retire honourably and return alive. 

“I am happy that he is returning home alive after 40 years of great service to our nation. Many people have returned dead, but we thank God who has protected him and brought him home alive,” Okello said. 

He added: “It is time for Elwelu to return to enjoy with his family the peace he fought for.” 

Okello added that if the general decides to seek political office, Kalaki county is available for him. 

According to the data from Parliament where he serves as the army representative, Elwelu was born of December 6, 1966. 

Insiders said Elwelu’s retirement was also cleared by the UPDF High Command. 

On Thursday (April 8), President Museveni, who is also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, chaired the UPDF High Command and the Defence Forces Council at State House, Entebbe. 

“I chaired the UPDF High Command meeting yesterday and the Defence Forces Council meeting today at State House, Entebbe. I emphasised the need for disciplined democracy in Uganda. The National Resistance Movement advocates disciplined democracy, not hooliganism or bad language, because we want Ugandans to decide what they want without intimidation,” Museveni said. 

“Politicians engaging in practices that intimidate citizens must stop! This is not the African way. The security agencies have discussed this issue, and it will come to an end. You must speak well in public; do not resort to negative speech. I, therefore, urge young people to uphold the values of the NRM. The challenge for young people is to understand what the pioneers started and to carry that legacy forward,” Museveni said. “Additionally, they should embrace ‘uzalendo,’ working for the betterment of the country,” the President added.

Who is Elwelu? 

Elwelu joined the Ugandan military in 1987 after attending the Tanzania Military Academy in Monduli. He was then posted to the military installation at Kabamba and later transferred to the Cadet Officer School at the Gadaffi Military Barracks in Jinja in 1995. 

Elwelu served as a commander in the UPDF during the invasion of Zaire and the overthrow of Mobutu Sese Seko, alongside the Rwandan military. 

He was later deployed to the northern region in 1999 to fight Joseph Kony and his guerilla Lord’s Resistance Army. During this tour, he survived being shot in the back. 
In 2007, Elwelu commanded the first Uganda military contingent when the country sent troops to Somalia under the African Union Mission to Somalia. 

He received commendation from the then UPDF Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Katumba Wamala (now works and transport minister), for his role on that tour. 

In June 2013, Elwelu was appointed commander of the 2nd UPDF Division based in Mbarara, having previously served as the commander of the UPDF 3rd Division based at Moroto. 

Elwelu made his first visit to UPDF troops in Somalia under African Union Mission to Somalia on March 22, 2017, in his capacity as the UPDF Land Forces commander. 

The spokesperson of the Ugandan contingent in Somalia said the general’s visit was to “check on the operational tempo, boost the morale of the troops and also update the troops on the situation in Uganda.” 

In February 2019, over 2,000 men and women in the UPDF received promotions, including Elwelu, who was promoted from the rank of major general to that of lieutenant general. 

On June 24, 2021, he was appointed deputy Chief of the Defence Forces of the UPDF. Prior to this, he served as the commander of Land Forces.