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PLU leader and Independent Magazine founder Andrew Mwenda has revealed that retired Lieutenant General Peter Elwelu allegedly planned to assassinate Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General Muhoozi Kainerugaba in an attempt to overthrow the government and seize power in Uganda.
According to a public statement released by Mwenda on Thursday, October 29, 2026, militia members recruited by the former army commander confessed during security briefings that Peter Elwelu explicitly informed them that eliminating General Muhoozi Kainerugaba was the primary key to taking over national leadership. Mwenda further disclosed that following the collapse of the alleged plot, the demoted officer is currently hiding in the wetlands and swamps across the Teso sub-region to evade capture by elite military units.
How did the alleged plot to assassinate CDF Muhoozi Kainerugaba unfold?
The disclosure by Andrew Mwenda represents the most alarming escalation in the ongoing standoff between the military high command and the former Deputy CDF.
Security intelligence indicates that the retired general had begun mobilizing an armed militia across Eastern Uganda. During interrogation briefings following recent arrests, captured fighters revealed that Peter Elwelu instructed them that killing the army commander was the direct path to usurping power in Kampala.
Upon discovering the armed network, elite Special Forces elements launched coordinated operations across the Teso region, intercepting militia cells before the alleged assassination attempt could be executed.
Why was Lieutenant General Peter Elwelu demoted to the rank of Private?
Prior to the revelation of the assassination plot, CDF General Muhoozi Kainerugaba publicly announced via official social media channels that Peter Elwelu had been stripped of all military ranks and demoted from a three-star Lieutenant General down to the lowest rank of Private, branding him a traitor to the armed forces.
The military command followed up the demotion with a heavy raid on a residential compound belonging to Peter Elwelu in Teso. During the operation, security forces recovered a substantial cache of illegal arms, including:
- Multiple AK-47 assault rifles and sub-machine guns (SMGs).
- Belts of high-caliber ammunition and tactical military gear.
- Communications equipment used to coordinate armed personnel.
Over 20 former soldiers affiliated with the demoted officer were taken into custody. Adding public humiliation to the military fallout, General Muhoozi announced the detention of the wife of Peter Elwelu, mockingly claiming that she had been subjecting the former commander to domestic physical abuse for nearly a decade.
While military commentators note that formal reduction in rank under Section 60 and Section 219 of the UPDF Act requires a sentence by the General Court Martial, the executive declaration has effectively rendered the former general a hunted fugitive.
What role does the 2016 Kasese massacre play in the current crisis?
As armed forces surround the marshlands of Teso, public commentary has drawn sharp parallels to the most violent chapter in the career of Peter Elwelu: the November 2016 raid on the Buhikira Palace in Kasese.
At the time, then-Brigadier Peter Elwelu commanded the UPDF 2nd Division troops that launched an assault on the palace of Rwenzururu King, Omusinga Charles Wesley Mumbere. The military action resulted in the deaths of over 150 citizens—including royal guards, women, and children—and led to the arrest of the King. Despite international outrage and sanctions imposed by the United States government over human rights violations, Peter Elwelu defended the killings, describing the victims as desperadoes.
Social media observers have noted the severe irony of the current situation. Commentators have pointed out that while fleeing from military forces in Teso, escaping toward the Rwenzori sub-region in Western Uganda is impossible, as the local population in Kasese still demands accountability for the 2016 palace deaths.
Why are observers alleging a political campaign against leadership in Teso?
The dramatic downfall of Peter Elwelu has triggered intense political debate regarding the treatment of high-profile figures from the Teso sub-region.
Before his reduction to the rank of Private, Peter Elwelu stood as one of the most senior military commanders from Teso, having served as Commander of Land Forces, Deputy CDF, and a military representative in Parliament. His sudden fall follows the political decline of former Speaker of Parliament Anita Among—another prominent figure from Teso whose political influence waned following corruption investigations and leadership shifts.
Political commentators and social media users have raised questions about whether the simultaneous removal of Anita Among and Peter Elwelu signals a systematic reduction of regional representation in government. However, security officials maintain that the measures against Peter Elwelu are strictly dictated by national security, military discipline, and the discovery of armed militia stockpiles.
What are the most searched questions about the plot against CDF Muhoozi?
What did Andrew Mwenda post about Peter Elwelu?
Andrew Mwenda posted that Peter Elwelu recruited a militia and briefed them that killing CDF General Muhoozi Kainerugaba would allow him to take over power in Uganda, adding that the demoted officer is currently hiding in the swamps of Teso.
Was Peter Elwelu legally demoted to Private?
While CDF General Muhoozi Kainerugaba declared Peter Elwelu demoted from Lieutenant General to Private on social media, military legal experts note that official rank reduction under the UPDF Act typically requires a formal trial and conviction by the General Court Martial.
What happened during the 2016 Kasese palace raid commanded by Peter Elwelu?
In November 2016, troops under the command of Peter Elwelu raided the Buhikira Palace of King Charles Wesley Mumbere in Kasese, resulting in over 150 deaths and drawing global condemnation alongside United States sanctions.
The security situation in Eastern Uganda remains extremely tense as military units maintain a perimeter around the wetlands of Teso. With accusations of an assassination plot now public, the outcome of the manhunt will mark a pivotal moment for military stability and political governance in Uganda.
