Tensions are escalating in the Teso sub-region after former State Minister for Works and former Arrow Boys commander Musa Ecweru issued a strict 24-hour ultimatum to retired Lt Gen Peter Elwelu to surrender to authorities or risk being hunted down and killed by security forces.
Addressing a press conference in Soroti City, Mr Ecweru-who lost his Amuria County parliamentary seat in the last election after serving four terms-warned that any attempt to launch a rebellion or destabilize peace in Teso would face decisive force. He urged the former Deputy Commander of Defence Forces (CDF) to abandon any alleged subversive plans immediately.
“My prayer to him is that if it is true, he should abandon that prayer before evening today,” Mr Ecweru said. He advised Lt Gen Elwelu, if fearful of harassment by law enforcement, to report to respected religious and political leaders such as the Bishop of Soroti Catholic Diocese, Right Reverend Joseph Oliach Eciru, or Vice President Jessica Alupo to facilitate a meeting with President Yoweri Museveni to request a pardon.
Mr Ecweru confirmed that members of the former Arrow Boys reserve force would join the police, internal security, and military units starting tomorrow to hunt down the retired general. Drawing a direct parallel to the late Smith Oponacak, who was killed by security forces after attempting to start an armed rebellion, Mr Ecweru warned that a similar fate awaits Lt Gen Elwelu if he refuses to surrender when cornered. He also noted that several missing youth in the region are suspected to have been lured into subversive activities and trafficked to western Uganda, promising to reveal their names on Monday.
However, Mr Ecweru’s hostile posture has drawn heavy backlash from local residents and community leaders, who accuse him of political opportunism and framing a retired military officer to gain state favor following his electoral defeat.
Samuel Ariko, a retired teacher, questioned the legal authority under which Mr Ecweru is operating and defended Lt Gen Elwelu’s record as a loyal officer to President Museveni. He questioned why treason accusations are surfacing now, suggesting the pushback against Elwelu stems from his alleged opposition to the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) agenda. Local resident Hellen Apiding urged independent security agencies to investigate the matter without bias, warning against using threats to persecute political opponents or disrupt civilian life.
The public threats follow confirmation from family members that Lt Gen Elwelu went into hiding earlier this year due to severe fears for his personal safety. Relatives revealed that the retired general noticed unknown individuals tracking his movements at his primary residence in Awoja, Soroti District, and his ancestral home in Anyara Village, Kalaki District, forcing him to avoid community gatherings and retreat from his security detail.
Since January, security operations targeting Elwelu have intensified, resulting in the arrest of his personal drivers, wife, and members of his security detail, along with the seizure of electronic devices. The operational dynamic worsened following social media statements by Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who described Elwelu as a traitor, claimed security forces recovered arms from his house, and asserted that Elwelu had been demoted to the rank of Private.
Family members have strongly denied the weapons recovery claims, describing them as an orchestrated attempt to destroy the general’s legacy after years of dedicated service. The underlying rift between Gen Muhoozi and Lt Gen Elwelu traces back to their time sharing high command responsibilities, during which disagreements over administrative protocols required direct intervention from President Museveni. Elwelu was subsequently reassigned to a presidential advisor role before formally retiring from active military service in August 2025.
In Soroti, neighbors in Awoja confirmed that the general has been absent for months, noting that his weekly gospel broadcasts on local radio ended abruptly around the same time.
Gen Muhoozi’s public claim that Lt Gen Elwelu was summary-demoted to the rank of Private faces strong legal hurdles under Ugandan military law. Under the UPDF Act (Cap. 330), as amended by the UPDF (Amendment) Act 2025, a commissioned general officer cannot be stripped of rank or demoted through executive statements or administrative directives. Legal provisions strictly require a formal trial, conviction, and sentencing by a competent Court Martial, which must subsequently be confirmed by the High Command.
Regional political leaders, including Members of Parliament from Teso, have declined to issue official statements regarding the standoff, maintaining that military directives issued over social media platforms require formal clarification from the Executive branch or the Ministry of Defence before Parliament can respond. Meanwhile, the Paramount Chief of the Iteso Cultural Union (ICU), Emorimor Paul Sande Emolot, has requested additional time to monitor the situation before issuing a formal guidance to the region.