The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) is in mourning following the sudden death of Major General Deus Sande, commander of the Armoured Division based in Masaka, Army spokesperson Col. Chris Magezi has confirmed.
Maj. Gen. Sande, a senior military officer with decades of service in the national defence establishment, died in the early hours of Wednesday while en route to the funeral of his colleague, Maj. Gen. Francis Takirwa, deceased Deputy Commander of Land Forces.
According to Col. Magezi, Sande developed breathing difficulties at around 3:45 a.m. in Mpigi District while travelling to Kampala to serve as a sword bearer at Takirwa’s service scheduled at All Saints Cathedral in Nakasero. Efforts to revive him at a nearby health facility were unsuccessful, and the exact cause of death will be determined pending further medical examination.
Tributes have poured in from peers in the security establishment, noting Sande’s long service and commitment to the UPDF. Details of his funeral arrangements are yet to be announced.
Maj. Gen. Sande’s name entered the national spotlight during the heated political climate ahead of the 2021 general elections when he made statements that critics described as politically charged for a serving military officer. At the time then Brigadier Sande was widely reported to have dismissed the idea that the army could ever transfer power to the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP), led by Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine. He was quoted saying, in effect, that the army would “consolidate” what it had rather than hand over power to NUP — comments that were later distanced by the UPDF leadership to reinforce the constitutional requirement for the military to remain apolitical.
Maj. Gen. Francis Takirwa, UPDF Deputy Commander Land Forces, Dies
The remarks drew criticism from civil society and political commentators who argued that the military should avoid public commentary on matters perceived as partisan, especially in an election cycle marked by tensions between security forces and political activists.
At the same time, Sande was reportedly involved in security operations in the Masaka region during the 2021 electoral period, which saw confrontations between security personnel and opposition supporters — events that continue to be part of broader discussions on rights, enforcement, and political space in Uganda.
While opinions on his legacy differ, figures within the defence forces have described Maj. Gen. Sande as a committed officer who served his country with distinction.
As the UPDF grapples with the loss of two senior commanders within days — following the recent passing of Maj. Gen. Takirwa — government and military circles are preparing to honour Sande’s service, even as national conversations on the role of security in politics continue.
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