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In July 2025, Lt Gen Peter Elwelu, the Senior Presidential Adviser and army representative in Parliament, will retire from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), along with 1,346 other officer, according to the Daily Monitor.
The report also revealed that the major retirement exercise will also see the exit of senior officials, including Gen Elwelu, Maj Gen Francis Okello, and Maj Gen George Igumba, who were recently replaced at their command stations.
Elwelu, a former Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, was dropped from the army leadership in March 2024 and appointed Senior Presidential Adviser. His relationship with the current Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has been strained, as seen in recent tweets from Kainerugaba that included a threat to arrest him.
Maj Bilal Katamba, the Deputy Defence Public Information Officer, confirmed the retirement exercise for Batch 15 in July, noting that the full list of generals set to retire will be shared later.
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Sources report that discussions about Gen Elwelu's retirement took place during recent High Command and Army Council sittings at State House Entebbe in March and April 2025. The UPDF High Command, chaired by the President, comprises the Defence Minister, the Chief of Defence Forces, and other senior officials, such as service commanders and division commanders.
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Brig Gen Emmanuel Kanyesigye, Commander of Jinja Cantonment, commended the officers for reaching "a noble and honourable milestone" in their careers. He reminded them to make sound financial decisions during retirement and avoid risky ventures.
Brig Gen Julius Biryabarema, Director of Pensions, Gratuity, and Compensation, cautioned the retirees about fraudsters targeting their gratuity and urged them to stay disciplined in managing their finances.
The retirement preparations are being carried out at the Non-Commissioned Officers’ Academy (NCOA) in Jinja, with the retirees undergoing sensitisation and documentation. They include officers from Major to Colonel ranks.
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Brig Gen Kanyesigye also encouraged the retirees to maintain UPDF values and prioritise their well-being.
Brig Gen Kenneth Muheirwe, Director of Administration at the Joint Services Human Resource Management, thanked the officers for their service and highlighted the improvements in retirement benefits.