Ex-minister Ecweru blasted over Elwelu killing threats

What the report says

Prominent leaders and elders in Uganda’s Iteso community have criticised former state minister for Works Musa Ecweru after he threatened retired Lt Gen Peter Elwelu with death if security forces cornered him. According to The Observer, Ecweru said Elwelu should surrender to security authorities within 24 hours and warned that attempts to destabilise the Teso sub-region would have consequences. He also urged Elwelu to present himself to Soroti Catholic Diocese Bishop Joseph Oliach Eciru, framing his comments as a defence of peace in the area.

The remarks drew backlash from community figures who said Ecweru was escalating tensions and stepping into the role of security agencies. Critics argued that allegations involving Elwelu should be handled through official investigations and due process, not public threats. Some also accused Ecweru of reviving memories of the former Arrow Boys militia, which operated during the region’s years of insecurity.

The dispute comes amid separate accusations from Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who has publicly alleged that Elwelu plotted against the government. The Observer reported that Muhoozi later said Elwelu had been stripped of his military ranks and that more than 20 former soldiers linked to him had been detained, though details were not provided. Elwelu had not publicly answered the claims at the time of publication.

The episode matters because Teso has a history of armed conflict, and local commentators warned that inflammatory statements could complicate efforts to establish the facts and keep the region calm.