The Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs has dismissed a newspaper report suggesting that President Yoweri Museveni personally assured former army commander Peter Elwelu of his safety in a deal that led to his surrender, insisting that the retired general gave himself up because security forces had closed in on him.
In a statement issued on Thursday, November 5, 2026, Colonel Chris Magezi, the Acting Director of Defence Public Information, described the account published by New Vision under the headline “Deal That Saw Elwelu Surrender: Museveni Assured Him of Personal Safety” as misleading.
Magezi rejected the suggestion that Elwelu voluntarily surrendered, arguing that the former general had no viable alternative after security forces closed in on him.
“It is misleading to suggest that Peter Elwelu surrendered out of his own volition,” Magezi said, adding that Elwelu gave himself up peacefully because security forces had left him with no viable alternative.
The military spokesperson also categorically denied that Museveni, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, had offered Elwelu any guarantees regarding his personal safety.
“At no point did the President and the Commander-In-Chief, General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni offer Elwelu assurances for his personal safety,” Magezi stated.
The clarification is significant because it distances the Presidency from any suggestion that Elwelu negotiated his way out of custody or received special protection from the Head of State.
Magezi said Museveni has full confidence in the judgment and actions of security agencies and expects them to take all necessary measures, proactively or otherwise, to maintain peace, order and stability in the country.
He further emphasised that the President expects unwavering discipline from all members of the security forces, including personnel serving under the Reserve Force.
No special treatment for Elwelu
The Defence Ministry spokesperson warned that military personnel and other individuals who violate Ugandan laws would be held accountable regardless of their status or previous positions in government.
“Those who break the laws of Uganda shall be held to account without fear or favour,” Magezi said.
He confirmed that Elwelu would be held fully accountable for his alleged actions before the UPDF General Court Martial.
The statement comes amid conflicting accounts of how the former Deputy Chief of Defence Forces ended up in security custody in Soroti.
On November 3, sources close to Elwelu claimed he had voluntarily contacted security operatives from his office in Soroti and asked them to collect him so he could answer allegations against him.
A relative and an associate reportedly maintained that he had chosen to hand himself over following consultations with friends and elders. Monitor+1
The UPDF, however, has consistently maintained that Elwelu had been on the run over alleged involvement in subversive activities and plans to destabilise the Teso sub-region.
The military has also claimed that security forces recovered 15 guns, military uniforms and two pickup trucks allegedly linked to the retired general. These allegations have not yet been established in court, and members of his family have disputed aspects of the military’s account. Monitor+2
Elwelu, who previously served as Deputy Chief of Defence Forces and Commander of Land Forces, now faces the prospect of prosecution before the military court.
However, the UPDF has not yet publicly detailed the specific charges he will face.
The latest statement makes the military’s position clear: whatever circumstances led to Elwelu’s surrender, the authorities are ruling out any special presidential safety arrangement and insisting that his case will proceed through the military justice system.
