Guns were planted in Elwelu’s home – wife

Patricia Apolot, the wife of retired Lt Gen Peter Elwelu, has denied claims by security authorities that guns and ammunition were recovered from their home in Soroti during a security operation, alleging instead that soldiers planted the weapons.

On October 27, Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba posted on his X account, in which he claimed that security operatives had recovered guns and ammunition from one of Elwelu’s homes in Teso. 

Some of the arms 'Private Elweru' was stockpiling at one of his homes in Teso. We have recovered a lot of arms and ammunition from his house. He has hours to surrender before we declare him a rebel and deal with him accordingly. pic.twitter.com/63zShwxueP

— Muhoozi Kainerugaba (@mkainerugaba) October 27, 2026

“Some of the arms ‘Private Elweru’ was stockpiling at one of his homes in Teso. We have recovered a lot of arms and ammunition from his house. He has hours to surrender before we declare him a rebel and deal with him accordingly,” Muhoozi posted.

Speaking about the operation, Apolot said security personnel, some in military uniform and others in civilian clothes, raided their home in Awoja Parish, Soroti district, at about 7:30 pm on Monday last week. She said the operatives questioned her about her husband’s whereabouts and confiscated her two mobile phones and those belonging to her sisters.

Apolot said she told the security personnel that Elwelu had left for prayers more than two weeks earlier and had not returned or communicated with her. 

“It was about 7:30 pm when a fleet of cars arrived at our home. When they came in, they were polite at first, but as the conversation went on, they didn’t get what they wanted. Because they asked to speak to Afande, I told them it had been over two weeks since he went for prayers and had not yet returned, and I had not heard from him, because normally, when he goes for prayers, he wants to be isolated. They said I was joking,” Apolot narrated. 

She said the operatives questioned why her husband had remained silent, arguing that he was a government official and should therefore not be keeping quiet. 

“I was like, since when has silence become a problem in this country? Someone being silent, does it mean he is doing something bad?” she said.

Apolot said the security personnel subsequently accused her of being coached by her husband and questioned some young men at the home about their relationship with him. She added that other soldiers searched the compound, looking for evidence that could implicate Elwelu. 

According to Apolot, the operatives later requested permission to search the main house, which she granted. She said they searched the kitchen, drawers, bedrooms, and bathrooms but found no weapons. 

Apolot explained that the soldiers became particularly suspicious of a locked room where she had kept money left by her husband for construction work. 

“They shouted at me, ‘open’, we know that’s diversion, we know that’s where afande has kept his guns.’ I told them afande does not allow guns to loiter; we have kids. Even the soldiers who [guard] us here, they lock away their guns,” she said.

She maintained that the search yielded no firearms and accused some of the soldiers who remained behind of planting weapons in the kitchen. 

“I think they were the ones that were sent to plant the guns. The door of the kitchen was open, so they put the guns there, because there was no gun, no pistol,” Apolot alleged. 

She said firearms belonging to soldiers who had previously provided security for Elwelu were kept at their Anyara home in a small armoury. According to Apolot, the weapons allegedly recovered from the Anyara premises were AK-47 rifles belonging to soldiers assigned to protect the retired general. 

She further explained that President Yoweri Museveni had promised Elwelu firearms for his personal security when he retired, but the weapons were later withdrawn alongside some of the soldiers assigned to protect him.

“The guns were taken, and even some of the soldiers were taken back, and we remained with only six soldiers whose guns were even kept away while they were at home,” Apolot said. 

Apolot also claimed that the family had experienced repeated security threats and surveillance at their homes, both during Elwelu’s active military service and after his retirement.

She alleged that individuals had repeatedly visited their properties under suspicious circumstances, sometimes disguising themselves as mentally ill people while taking photographs of the retired general. 

“All this is intended to humiliate him to the dot, to the point of no return,” she said.

Apolot also alleged that more than Shs 2 million went missing during the security operation. She said the money had been left with her by her husband for construction work. She expressed frustration over allegations circulating on social media portraying her husband as a criminal and someone plotting to overthrow the government.

“To me it’s so painful to see my husband written as a criminal, someone who wants to overthrow government, and yet he was loyal to them and served to their best wish,” she said. 

She also dismissed social media claims that she had physically assaulted her husband, insisting that they had never fought.

“How do I beat my husband? He loves me, and we have never been in any fight. If the person who talked about that could know how I am pampered by the general, let him come and ask this community around,” Apolot said. 

She added that Elwelu had previously warned her that retired generals could face difficulties after leaving active military service.

“Some time back the general told me that, ‘My wife, as you are sitting, know that for us generals, no general has ever retired peacefully. At a given time these people are coming for us.’

He always used to tell me that, ‘When you’re here at home, just know.’ I told him if such a thing happens, you will get me here at home; whether a hundred years, you will get me where you have left me,” she said.

Apolot’s account comes amid growing concern in Teso over Elwelu’s reported arrest and the circumstances surrounding his detention. The situation has triggered reactions on social media, with some residents calling on Teso leaders to intervene and establish his whereabouts and the reasons for his reported detention.

Since the reports emerged, the government has not issued a detailed public statement explaining Elwelu’s status or the circumstances surrounding his arrest. This follows a post by military spokesperson Chris Magezi on X claiming that the retired general was being held over alleged subversive activities.