By Julius Mugaga Tukacungurwa/Umoja Standard.
Kyambogo, Uganda: While lecturing Journalists on ‘Mentorship for responsible citizenship’ during day-two of Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) Symposium ongoing at Kyambogo University, Lt. Gen. Peter Elwelu, the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces of UPDF narrated that he used to be a private escort to a Lieutenant in Kotido those days but his story today is unique.
He revealed that, used to carry (two bags, two guns) his and for boss, laid his bed, prepared his meals but little did he know that he was to become Deputy CDF he is now.
“I am not the best in Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) but before being in my mother’s womb, God had prepared my destination where I dine now”. Said Gen. Elwelu.
It’s against this background that he implored Journalists that were gathered at Kyambogo to execute their duties and responsibilities diligently wherever they’re placed because at one time would dine in a destination where God prepared for them to be.
“I bring you a message of peace. God gave us Uganda as our permanent position, it’s the best country on earth for us so it’s in our hands to either build or break it”. Gen. Elwelu.
“It’s only us who can solve the problems of this country not any other third party, the moment we negatively portray it, we bury it but when we love it, we build it”. Gen. Elwelu to Journalists.
He went to plead to Journalists to deliver message of goodwill and protect the country.
“We need to work together in order to have this country progressive and prosperous”. Gen. Elwelu.
*About Lt. Gen. Peter Elwelu*
Peter Elwelu is a Lieutenant General in the Ugandan military, known formally as the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF).He currently serves as the Deputy Chief of the Defence Forces of the UPDF.
He was appointed to that position on 24 June 2021. Since 9 January 2017, he has served as the commander of land forces, which is the fourth-highest position in the UPDF hierarchy.
Prior to that, from June 2013 until January 2017, he was the commander of the UPDF 2nd division, based in Mbarara, the largest town in Uganda’s Western Region.
He is reported to have joined the Ugandan military in 1987. He first attended the Tanzania Military Academy in Monduli. Following that, he was posted to the military installation at Kabamba. In 1995, he was transferred to the Gaddafi military barracks at Jinja, at the Cadet Officer School.
In 1999, he was deployed to the Northern Region to fight Joseph Kony and his guerrilla Lord’s Resistance Army. During that tour, he survived being shot in the back.
When Uganda first sent troops to Somalia in 2007 under the African Union Mission to Somalia, Elwelu commanded the first Uganda military contingent. He received commendation from the UPDF chief of defence forces, General Katumba Wamala, for his role on that tour.
His career is diverse….