The allegations add a new dimension to the growing standoff between retired Lt Gen Peter Elwelu and Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, with Mwenda claiming the former army deputy recruited a militia to execute the alleged plan.
KAMPALA, October 30, 2026 — Political commentator and Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) spokesperson Andrew Mwenda has accused retired Lieutenant General Peter Elwelu of planning to assassinate Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, allegedly as part of an attempt to seize power.
In a post published on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, October 29, Mwenda claimed that individuals allegedly recruited by Elwelu into a militia had disclosed details of the purported assassination plan during a security briefing.
Mwenda alleged that Elwelu had told the recruits that killing Gen Muhoozi would create an opportunity for him to take control of Uganda.
“Private Elwelu was planning to kill the CDF @mkainerugaba. The militia he had recruited have said that in a briefing to them, he said he kills Gen Muhoozi he would be able to take over Uganda. Now he is hiding in the swamps of Teso,” Mwenda wrote.
The allegations represent a significant escalation in the increasingly public confrontation involving the retired senior military officer and the serving army chief.
However, Mwenda did not identify the alleged militia members, disclose where or when the reported briefing took place, or provide documentary evidence to substantiate the alleged assassination plan.
As of Friday, October 30, the claims had not been independently verified, and no publicly available official investigation report had established that Elwelu organised an assassination plot against the CDF.
Alleged militia recruitment and planned assassination
According to Mwenda’s account, the alleged recruits disclosed that Elwelu had presented the killing of Gen Muhoozi as a means of removing an obstacle to his ambitions of taking over the country.
The claim introduces a new dimension to the security controversy surrounding the former deputy army chief, who has been at the centre of public accusations of treachery, rebellion and alleged weapons stockpiling.
Mwenda’s statement does not clarify whether the alleged militia members are among the more than 20 former soldiers whose arrests were previously announced by Gen Muhoozi.
Neither the identities of the alleged recruits nor the circumstances under which their statements were obtained have been publicly established.
The distinction is important because allegations of an assassination conspiracy carry serious criminal and national security implications and require evidence that can be independently examined.
Elwelu reportedly hiding in Teso
Mwenda also claimed that Elwelu was hiding in the swamps of the Teso sub-region as security pressure against him intensified.
The claim follows earlier reports that the retired general had gone into hiding amid concerns for his personal safety.
In a report published on October 28, Daily Monitor quoted an unnamed family member who said Elwelu had withdrawn from public engagements after reportedly noticing unidentified individuals following his movements.
According to the relative, the retired general had stopped attending community gatherings and family burials because of fears for his safety.
The family member also said Elwelu had begun avoiding the security personnel assigned to protect him.
The report identified his primary residence as being in Awoja, Soroti District, and his ancestral home in Anyara Village, Kalaki District.
However, the family’s account does not independently establish that Elwelu is currently hiding in swamps or that he is evading authorities because of an assassination investigation.
The reported whereabouts of the retired general remain a matter of public concern.
Muhoozi previously announced arrests of former soldiers
Mwenda’s latest allegations come days after Gen Muhoozi publicly announced that security authorities had arrested more than 20 former soldiers previously associated with Elwelu.
In a series of posts on his official X account on October 27, the CDF described Elwelu as a traitor and claimed that the former deputy army chief had been stripped of his military ranks and reduced to the rank of Private.
“We have arrested over 20 of Elwelu’s former soldiers. They are co-operating well. They all agree he went insane a long time ago. Elwelu should surrender soon in order to save his own life,” Muhoozi wrote.
The CDF also claimed that security personnel had recovered firearms and ammunition from one of Elwelu’s residences in Teso.
He subsequently urged the retired general to surrender, warning that he could be declared a rebel if he failed to comply.
However, the military chief did not publicly provide a comprehensive account identifying the arrested individuals, the specific offences they were suspected of committing or the evidence linking them to an alleged rebellion.
Elwelu’s family has disputed claims concerning the recovery of weapons from his residence, describing the accusations as an attempt to damage the retired officer’s reputation.
The latest allegations by Mwenda have therefore added to a controversy that has increasingly played out through statements on social media rather than detailed public briefings by security institutions.
Family disputes accusations against retired general
Elwelu’s relatives have previously rejected accusations against him, maintaining that he served the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and the government faithfully throughout his military career.
Speaking to Daily Monitor, a family member questioned the accusations and described the developments as an attempt to undermine the former army officer’s reputation.
The family also maintained that Elwelu went into hiding because he feared for his life, rather than because he was planning an armed rebellion.
The competing accounts have created uncertainty surrounding the circumstances of his disappearance and the allegations being made against him.
Elwelu had not publicly responded to Mwenda’s latest assassination allegation in the reports reviewed for this article.
Growing tension in the Teso sub-region
The controversy has also attracted attention from political and community leaders in Teso, where Elwelu has family and residential connections.
On Thursday, October 29, former State Minister for Works and former Arrow Boys commander Musa Ecweru issued a 24-hour ultimatum urging Elwelu to surrender to authorities.
Speaking at a press conference in Soroti City, Ecweru warned against any attempt to destabilise security in the region.
He also suggested that the retired general could seek assistance from respected religious and political leaders, including the Bishop of Soroti Catholic Diocese, Joseph Oliach Eciru, and Vice President Jessica Alupo, to facilitate engagement with President Yoweri Museveni.
Ecweru further said former members of the Arrow Boys would work alongside security agencies in efforts to locate the retired officer.
His remarks, however, attracted criticism from some residents and community leaders who questioned the appropriateness of involving former auxiliary fighters in a security operation involving a retired senior military officer.
Some called for independent security investigations to establish the facts and ensure that the situation does not threaten civilian safety.
The developments have heightened concerns about the possibility of political and security tensions spreading within the Teso region.
Background to the Elwelu-Muhoozi confrontation
Elwelu previously served as Deputy Chief of Defence Forces before being reassigned from the position and subsequently serving as a presidential adviser.
He formally retired from active military service in August 2025.
His relationship with Gen Muhoozi has reportedly been characterised by disagreements dating back to their time in senior military command positions.
According to reporting by Daily Monitor, disagreements over military administrative procedures and the movement of military units previously required President Museveni’s intervention.
The latest confrontation has brought those tensions into the public domain, with both military and political figures making statements about the retired general’s conduct and whereabouts.
Elwelu has also previously attracted international attention. In May 2024, the United States imposed travel restrictions on him over alleged human rights violations linked to the 2016 military operation in Kasese.
That history, however, is separate from the latest allegations concerning an alleged assassination plot against Gen Muhoozi.
Questions over military procedures and accountability
The unfolding dispute has also raised questions about military discipline, the handling of security investigations and the limits of public declarations concerning the status of serving and retired officers.
Gen Muhoozi’s announcement that Elwelu had been reduced to the rank of Private attracted legal scrutiny, with reporting by Daily Monitor highlighting provisions of the UPDF Act governing the demotion of commissioned officers.
The legal framework requires formal military judicial procedures for changes to the substantive rank of commissioned officers.
The latest assassination allegation similarly raises questions about the need for transparent investigations and the presentation of credible evidence before serious criminal accusations are treated as established facts.
Security agencies have a responsibility to investigate credible threats against national leaders while respecting the law and protecting the rights of individuals implicated in investigations.
For the public, establishing whether there was an organised militia, whether its members were recruited by Elwelu and whether an assassination plan existed will be essential to understanding the seriousness of the allegations.
Conclusion
Mwenda’s accusation that retired Lt Gen Peter Elwelu planned to assassinate Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba and seize power marks another escalation in an already tense security dispute.
While the allegations are serious, they remain unverified and should not be treated as established findings without supporting evidence from credible investigations.
The family’s account that Elwelu went into hiding because of fears for his personal safety also remains an important part of the competing narratives surrounding the controversy.
As Uganda awaits further clarification, attention will remain on the UPDF, police, intelligence agencies and other relevant institutions to establish the facts, determine whether any criminal activity occurred and ensure that the situation is handled within the law.
Ultimately, credible evidence, transparent investigations and respect for due process will be essential in resolving the dispute and preventing further uncertainty in the country.
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