Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has claimed that the wife of retired Lt Gen Peter Elwelu has been arrested over allegations that she subjected the former military officer to domestic abuse for eight years.
Muhoozi earlier announced that he had demoted Elwelu to private and arrested his former soldiers.
In a post on X on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, Muhoozi wrote: “We have also arrested Elweru’s wife who has been beating him for the last 8 years. That’s why he always looked confused in Parliament. Domestic abuse.”
The claim had not been independently verified by the time of publication. It was also unclear where the alleged arrest took place, which security agency carried it out or whether any formal charges had been filed.
Muhoozi did not provide evidence to support the allegation or explain the circumstances surrounding the alleged abuse.
Who is Peter Elwelu’s wife?
Some social media posts and an older photograph caption published by The New Vision have identified Peninah Alimpa as Elwelu’s wife. However, the available information does not independently confirm her identity or establish whether she is the person referred to in Muhoozi’s post.
Parliament’s online profile for Elwelu lists his marital status as single, although the profile does not establish his current family circumstances.
Elwelu is a retired senior officer of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) who previously served as Deputy Chief of Defence Forces. He was dropped from the position in March 2024 and later appointed a presidential adviser.
His military career also drew international attention in May 2024, when the United States imposed travel restrictions on him over alleged human rights violations linked to the 2016 security operation at the Rwenzururu Kingdom palace in Kasese.
Muhoozi’s latest post introduces a separate allegation concerning Elwelu’s private life. No independent confirmation of the alleged domestic abuse or the reported arrest was available in the sources reviewed.
