Lt Gen Peter Elwelu, the Senior Presidential Adviser and army representative in Parliament, is set to retire from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) in July 2025, alongside 1,346 other officers
The large-scale retirement exercise will include several senior figures in the military. Among them are Maj Gen Francis Okello and Maj Gen George Igumba, both of whom were recently replaced in their command positions.
Lt Gen Elwelu, formerly the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, was dropped from the army’s top leadership in March 2024 and reassigned as a Senior Presidential Adviser. His relationship with the current Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has reportedly been strained. This tension surfaced publicly through tweets by Gen Kainerugaba, including one in which he appeared to threaten Elwelu with arrest.
Maj Bilal Katamba, the Deputy Defence Public Information Officer, confirmed the upcoming retirement of Batch 15, stating that the full list of generals will be released at a later date
The retirement discussions reportedly took place during the High Command and Army Council meetings at State House Entebbe in March and April 2025. These meetings are chaired by the President and include top UPDF officials such as the Defence Minister, Chief of Defence Forces, service commanders, and division commanders.
As part of the preparation, the retirees are undergoing sensitisation and documentation processes at the Non-Commissioned Officers’ Academy (NCOA) in Jinja. The retiring officers include ranks from Major to Colonel.
Brig Gen Emmanuel Kanyesigye, Commander of Jinja Cantonment, commended the officers for achieving what he called “a noble and honourable milestone.” He advised them to make prudent financial decisions in retirement and to avoid risky ventures.
Brig Gen Julius Biryabarema, Director of Pensions, Gratuity, and Compensation, warned retirees about fraudsters targeting their benefits and encouraged discipline in managing finances.
Brig Gen Kenneth Muheirwe, Director of Administration at the Joint Services Human Resource Management, expressed gratitude for the officers’ service and acknowledged recent improvements in retirement benefits.
As Uganda prepares for this significant transition in its military ranks, the UPDF leadership continues to emphasize dignity, integrity, and preparedness among those leaving active service.
