Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has announced the alleged recovery of a stockpile of firearms and ammunition from a residence belonging to retired Lt Gen Peter Elwelu in Teso. Muhoozi reportedly gave the former deputy army chief hours to surrender, warning that he could be declared a rebel and face further action if he failed to comply.

In a statement shared on Tuesday, Muhoozi claimed that security forces had discovered a large quantity of weapons at one of Elwelu’s homes. He accompanied the announcement with a photograph showing what appeared to be firearms, ammunition belts and several magazines. However, the full details surrounding the discovery and the circumstances in which the weapons were recovered have not been independently established.

Muhoozi reportedly referred to Elwelu as “Private Elweru” while discussing the recovered weapons. He warned that the retired general had only hours to surrender before authorities would consider declaring him a rebel. The statement represents a further escalation in the public confrontation between the serving army chief and the retired senior officer.

The latest announcement follows an earlier statement by Muhoozi that security forces had arrested more than 20 soldiers who previously served under Elwelu. Muhoozi also claimed to have stripped the retired officer of his military ranks and reduced him to the rank of private. The legal basis and status of the purported demotion, however, remain unclear.

The confrontation has extended beyond Elwelu himself. In another statement, Muhoozi claimed that security forces had arrested the retired general’s wife, accusing her of physically abusing him for eight years. He did not provide evidence to support the allegation or explain the legal grounds for the reported detention, leaving important questions about the circumstances surrounding the claim.

The dispute between the two military figures is not new. In December 2024, Muhoozi publicly criticised Elwelu, describing him as unfit to serve in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and threatening to arrest him. He also accused the former deputy army chief of hiding behind President Yoweri Museveni. Elwelu later appeared on a list of senior officers scheduled for retirement in 2025, although he dismissed suggestions that his retirement had been forced upon him.

Before retiring, Elwelu held several senior military positions, including commander of the UPDF Land Forces and commander of the Second Division. He also commanded the November 2016 military operation at the Rwenzururu Kingdom palace in Kasese, where more than 100 people were reported killed. The operation attracted international criticism, and the United States later imposed sanctions on him.

The latest developments have placed Elwelu’s situation under renewed scrutiny, with attention focused on Muhoozi’s surrender ultimatum, the alleged weapons recovery and the fate of the soldiers reportedly arrested. Key questions remain about the evidence supporting the allegations, the legal procedures being followed and whether Elwelu will surrender. Until the claims are independently verified and the relevant authorities provide further details, the allegations should be treated as statements attributed to Muhoozi rather than established findings of wrongdoing.