Lt Gen Peter Elwelu, the former Deputy Chief of Defence Forces (D/CDF), is among 1,346 senior officers and service members set to officially retire from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) in July 2025.
The move follows his removal from army leadership in March 2024 and subsequent appointment as a Senior Presidential Adviser.
Gen Elwelu’s retirement comes amid growing scrutiny and divided public opinion over his military legacy. While some praise his decades-long service as exemplary, others point to a history marked by violent episodes and controversial decisions.
In December 2024, First Son and UPDF Commander Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba publicly criticized Elwelu, referring to him as a “buffoon” unworthy of serving in the national army—an unprecedented personal rebuke from within the highest ranks of the force.
Adding to the controversy, Gen Elwelu was accused in November 2024 of destroying cultural heritage sites in Katakwi District, actions that drew sharp condemnation from His Highness Papa Emorimor Paul Sande Emolot Etomeileng, the Paramount Chief of the Iteso Cultural Union.
The destruction reportedly caused significant tension between the military and local communities.
Critics have also continued to revisit the events of November 26, 2016, when over 150 civilians were killed during a military operation in Kasese under Elwelu’s command.
Human rights advocates and political figures have called the incident one of the darkest days in Uganda’s post-independence history, with long-standing impacts on the affected communities.
Despite these shadows, a faction within military and government circles continues to defend Elwelu’s legacy, hailing his “remarkable service, bravery, and selflessness.”
In a strongly worded statement, supporters warned against politicizing his retirement: “Retirement is not a crime or a demotion… Leave things of generals to generals. Aluta continua.”
The announcement of the retirement list follows a high-level security and political strategy meeting chaired by President Yoweri Museveni at State House Entebbe.
Addressing the UPDF High Command and Defense Forces Council, Museveni emphasized the need for “disciplined democracy,” urging politicians and the youth to abandon divisive rhetoric and embrace national unity.
“We want Ugandans to decide what they want without intimidation,” the President said. “Politicians engaging in practices that intimidate citizens must stop! This is not the African way.”
As the UPDF prepares to bid farewell to one of its most polarizing figures, the country remains divided—between reverence for his military service and lingering questions over accountability, cultural respect, and human rights.