After nearly four decades of military service, Lieutenant General Peter Elwelu is preparing to hang up his uniform, bringing to a close a career that has been as impactful as it has been controversial.
At 58, Lt Gen Elwelu is among 1,300 military personnel ranging from top brass to junior officers slated for retirement from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) this July. Though still two years shy of the official retirement age for generals, his inclusion on the list has stirred speculation about whether he is stepping down willingly or being quietly pushed out.
But in a calm and reflective tone, Elwelu brushed off the speculation.
“I welcome the decision of the UPDF leadership to send me for early retirement,” he said. “I have surely made my humble contribution to my beloved country, Uganda. For God and my Country.”
His words, though simple, carry the weight of a long and complex legacy.
Lt Gen Elwelu once held one of the highest positions in the army Deputy Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) before being relieved of the post last year alongside then-CDF Gen Wilson Mbasu Mbadi. Prior to that, he served as the commander of UPDF Land Forces and the 2nd Division in Mbarara, roles that placed him at the center of major military operations.
Perhaps the most defining and divisive moment of his career came in November 2016, when he led the operation on the Rwenzururu Palace in Kasese. The raid left more than 150 people dead and hundreds arrested, casting a long shadow over his name and deepening tensions in the region. The site of the palace, once a symbol of cultural pride, remains desolate. Though King Charles Wesley Mumbere was eventually pardoned, the scars of that day have not fully healed.
In recent years, Elwelu shifted from battlefield command to political influence, serving as a senior presidential advisor and a military representative in Parliament. These roles allowed him to remain close to the heart of power, even as his operational role in the UPDF waned.
Now, as he prepares to leave active service, Lt Gen Elwelu joins other senior officers heading for retirement, including Maj Gen Charles Okello, the founding commander of the National Defence College in Jinja, and Maj Gen George Igumba.
His departure marks the end of an era one marked by loyalty, duty, and controversy. For his supporters, Elwelu is a patriot who served his country with unshaken commitment. For his critics, his legacy will always be clouded by the tragedy in Kasese.
Whatever history’s final judgment may be, Lt Gen Elwelu walks away with the quiet dignity of a man who believes he did his duty right or wrong with unwavering resolve.
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