Gen Elwelu to monitor govt programmes in Karamoja, Teso

The three-star general was designated by the US government in May for his role in leading the deadly attack on the Rwenzururu palace in Kasese in 2016

NATIONAL | President Museveni has appointed his special advisor General Peter Elwelu to monitor government activities in Teso and Karamoja sub-regions.

Gen Elwelu was only in March dropped from Deputy Chief of Defence Forces position and named a special presidential advisor.

The military officer from Teso has been carrying a heavy load of conscience since the Kasese Massacre of November 26, 2016, for which he was designated by the US government in May.

But in a July 10 letter, Mr Museveni directed Gen Elwelu to carry out new duties of monitoring government programmes in Karamoja and Teso sub-regions in addition to his current assignment as one of the 10 defence and military representatives to Parliament.

"By copy of this letter, I direct the State House Comptroller to facilitate you to carry out the assignment," the President said.

The core role of monitoring government programmes is currently in the collars of Resident District and City Commissioners (RDC/RCC) and the appointment of Gen Elwelu to the same adds to the spiraling duplication of duties in government.

Key agencies such as the Ombudsman and Taxman have seen their duties being duplicated with formation of units under the presidency to do more of the same or monitor their activities.

Gen Elwelu's non-defined role leaves him hanging between being an extension of an RDC or a supervisor of RDCs in the duty station.

However, some sources suggest that with the seemingly never ending insecurity issues in Karamoja, Elwelu could have turned out as the perfect man to restore order in the mineral-rich arid region.

Elwelu's new assignment was given on the same day Police deployed ACP Francis Chemusto as the new commandant of the Anti-Stock Theft Unit replacing Elias Kasirabo.

The unit is directly charged with the responsibility of mitigating cattle thefts and is mostly operating in Karamoja and the neighbouring districts.

Since being dropped from the defence and military top leadership, Gen Elwelu has been in what the military slang refers to as Katebe - albeit as a special presidential advisor.

The new appointment appears to save the three-star General from further blushes of being on katebe at such a high rank whilst not serving any disciplinary sanctions from the army.

When Mr Matthew Miller, the State department spokesperson, announced the US sanctions in May, he said was designated due to his involvement in gross violations of human rights.

"Specifically, Peter Elwelu was involved, while commanding UPDF forces, in extrajudicial killings that were committed by members of the UPDF," he said.

Gen Elwelu commanded one of the deadliest assaults on fellow Ugandans in the attack on the Rwenzuru palace on November 26 and 27, 2016.

At least 100 people, including 15 children, were slaughtered in the attack that also saw King Wesley Mumbere taken into custody.