UPDF Senior Officers and Generals Locked Up in Anti-Corruption Crackdown

Over the past 15 months, a significant crackdown within the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) has seen more than a dozen generals and senior military officers placed in detention. The arrests, executed on the orders of the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, highlight a fierce campaign against alleged corruption and criminality within the army’s upper echelons.

The high-profile detentions have sent shockwaves through the military establishment, showcasing the expanding authority of the CDF. Among the prominent figures caught in the net is retired three-star general and immediate past deputy army chief, Peter Elwelu, who was arrested in Soroti. Gen Elwelu previously gained national and international prominence for commanding the 2016 military raid on the Rwenzururu king’s palace.

Investigations and subsequent legal actions have also targeted other senior ranks. Earlier, four senior UPDF officers were remanded to face charges related to the theft of fuel, maintaining their detention since their initial arrest in April 2025. Sources close to the ongoing investigations indicate that the probe into false intelligence and related offenses continues to widen, with more individuals potentially facing scrutiny.

Despite the gravity of the detentions involving high-ranking military figures, political intervention has been notably measured. Reports from Teso chiefs suggest that President Museveni has expressed hesitation to directly intervene in Gen Elwelu’s case due to legal sensitivities surrounding the nature of the allegations against such a senior commander.

As the military leadership presses forward with internal accountability measures, the wider public and security observers await further developments in these high-stakes investigations. More details on the unfolding military crackdown can be found in the original report on Daily Monitor.