Fresh details have emerged about the whereabouts of retired Lt. Gen. Peter Elwelu following his arrest, with Deputy Chief of Defence Forces Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding confirming that the former senior military commander is being detained at Makindye Military Barracks in Kampala. The facility is a highly secured military installation where Elwelu is currently being held as security investigations continue.

Elwelu’s arrest has attracted considerable public attention because of his former position in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), where he served as Deputy Chief of Defence Forces. His detention has also sparked questions about the circumstances surrounding his arrest and the allegations that security agencies are investigating.

The controversy intensified after Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba accused Elwelu of involvement in an alleged plot against President Yoweri Museveni. Muhoozi reportedly linked the allegations to an incident in which Elwelu allegedly instructed Special Forces Command (SFC) commandos to go on Standby Class One while Museveni was away in Rwanda.

According to the accusations, the order raised suspicions within the security establishment about Elwelu’s intentions at the time. Muhoozi reportedly interpreted the development as an attempt to prepare for a possible coup against his father. However, the allegations remain accusations and have not been independently established as proven facts.

The developments have placed Elwelu, once regarded as one of the most influential military figures in Uganda, at the centre of an extraordinary security controversy. His detention has raised questions about what investigators have established, whether other people are being questioned and what evidence exists to support the accusations being made against him.

Earlier, Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding explained how security agencies traced Elwelu after his name reportedly emerged during investigations into alleged recruitment of youths in the Teso sub-region. Okiding said President Museveni had directed him to contact the retired general and ask him to explain his alleged connection to the matter. Security officers eventually located him through contacts within his church community.

Okiding previously said Elwelu was yet to meet Museveni, who was expected to hear his side of the story and give him an opportunity to respond to the allegations. The latest confirmation that he is being held at Makindye Military Barracks adds another development to a case that has continued to attract attention across the country.

For now, attention is focused on the investigations, the accusations made by Gen Muhoozi and whether Elwelu will be given an opportunity to respond formally. The retired general’s detention has become a major talking point within Uganda’s security and political circles, with many waiting for further official information about his case.