Remember your officer — Elwelu’s wife appeals to Museveni
“I am a law-abiding citizen, and I am willing to cooperate with security operatives. I will continue telling them the truth because that is what my husband has always taught me to do,” she said.
Retired deputy commander of defence forces Lt. Gen. Peter Elwelu. (File)
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Patricia Apolot, the wife of retired deputy commander of defence forces Lt. Gen. Peter Elwelu, has appealed to President Yoweri Museveni to intervene in her husband’s case, insisting that her husband has never been involved in efforts to form a rebel group.
Apolot, a prominent Ugandan kickboxer and martial artist popularly known as Uganda’s “kickboxing queen”, dismissed as untrue allegations that her husband (Elwelu) harboured intentions of overthrowing the Government.
“Kindly remember your officer whom you appointed and entrusted with responsibilities. If you still trust Elwelu, then all these allegations against him should not be taken at face value,” Apolot appealed to the President.
Speaking in an emotional tone, Apolot said her nine-year marriage to Elwelu had given her no reason to believe that he would engage in rebellion.
“No, not the man I know, not the man I have lived with,” she said in a 30-minute exclusive interview with New Vision online in Soroti City on Wednesday, October 28.
She argued that her husband’s silence and absence may have been misinterpreted, reiterating that Elwelu had no intention of taking up arms against the Government.
“My husband is innocent and cannot, even for a minute, think of starting a rebellion. He loves Uganda, and his dream is to have a peaceful country,” she said.
Apolot also appealed to the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, to reconsider the decision to arrest her husband, maintaining that the retired general had been wrongly accused.
“The CDF knows the truth that my husband is innocent. He is wrongly being accused,” she said.
She said he had previously turned down approaches from people encouraging him to join politics because he wanted to enjoy a quiet life.
“He wants to live a free life. That is why he even turned down requests from people to join politics,” she said.
Apolot also revealed that Elwelu welcomed his retirement despite not having anticipated leaving the army at that time.
“He was not due for retirement, but when he got the news, he welcomed it with all his heart,” she said.
However, she expressed concern over the repeated security operations at their home in Soroti, saying security personnel had raided the residence more than four times within two weeks.
“I am a law-abiding citizen, and I am willing to cooperate with security operatives. I will continue telling them the truth because that is what my husband has always taught me to do,” she said.
She revealed that her husband left their village home for Kampala two weeks ago to spend time in prayer.
‘I have no regrets marrying him’
Asked whether she regretted marrying Elwelu, Apolot laughed off. “Do you regret being born? My dear, Gen. Elwelu was shown to me by God in a vision way back in 2007. The vision came true in 2017 when we finally met as husband and wife,” she said with a smile.
She described their marriage as loving and respectful, adding that she had no intention of abandoning her husband during his current predicament.
Despite her confidence in her husband’s innocence, she said the situation had taken a toll on her family, particularly her father, whose health she said had deteriorated amid concerns about her safety.
“My father is sick and worried about me,” said Apolot, who hails from Ngora district.
Nevertheless, she remains hopeful that Elwelu will overcome his current difficulties, drawing strength from her Christian faith.
“God has never slept. It might take years for Him to answer. It took 99 years for Him to answer Sarah in the Bible, and it took more than 90 years to answer Abraham,” she said.
Security concerns after retirement
Apolot further revealed that Elwelu had previously raised concerns about his personal security during a meeting with President Museveni after his retirement.
According to her, the retired general informed the President that his life was in danger and requested that his security detail be maintained.
However, she said the soldiers assigned to protect him were withdrawn shortly after his retirement.
"Soon after his retirement, the soldiers were withdrawn, and he never complained,” Apolot said.
Her appeal comes amid allegations linking the retired general to efforts to form a rebel group. But Apolot insists that the claims are unfounded and urged the country's leadership to consider her husband's record of service and give him a chance to clear his name.