KAMPALA — Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba has announced plans to introduce mandatory psychiatric evaluations for Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officers before promotion to the rank of General, alongside annual fitness tests for all senior officers.
In a post on X on Thursday, October 29, 2026, Muhoozi linked the proposed measures to the ongoing military operation against former Deputy Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Peter Elweru, whom he accused of treachery.
“From now on before one is promoted to the rank of General in UPDF, they will undergo a psychiatric evaluation to determine if they are sane or not? We will not have another loony like Elweru. Also, from today all UPDF senior officers will take annual fitness tests,” Muhoozi posted.
He did not provide details on how the proposed psychiatric assessments would be conducted or when the new requirements would be formally implemented.
The announcement comes as Muhoozi continues to issue updates about operations to locate and apprehend Elweru, whom he has publicly stripped of his military ranks and demoted to Private.
In another post, the CDF said he had instructed soldiers pursuing the former army deputy chief to capture him alive.
“I have told our soldiers not to kill Elweru but to bring him to me alive. I want to talk to him,” he wrote.
Muhoozi also claimed that security forces had arrested more than 20 former soldiers who served under Elweru and recovered firearms and ammunition allegedly hidden at several locations in the Teso sub-region.
He further announced the arrest of Elweru’s driver and the seizure of the vehicle the former officer was reportedly using.
The CDF warned Elweru to surrender, saying he could otherwise be declared a rebel and dealt with accordingly.
The allegations against Elweru and details of the reported weapons recoveries have not been independently verified in the information available for this report. The posts did not indicate whether formal charges had been filed against him.
The proposed psychiatric screening and annual fitness tests would introduce additional assessments for senior military officers, although Muhoozi did not outline the procedures, standards or oversight arrangements for implementing the measures.
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