UPDF Suffers Another Blow with Death of Senior Commander Gen. Deus Sande

The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) is in mourning following the sudden passing of Maj. Gen. Deus Sande, the Division Commander of the Armoured Brigade in Masaka.

Gen. Sande died early this morning in Mpigi District while en route to Kampala for official duties.

“Tragedy has struck the UPDF family again, and with deep sorrow, we confirm the sudden passing of the UPDF Armored Division Commander (Masaka) Maj Gen Deus Sande early this morning in Mpigi District,” Col Chris Magezi, the UPDF Acting Director of Public Information, said.

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According to Magezi, Deus Sande died at around 3:45 am while travelling to Kampala, where he was expected to serve as a sword bearer at the funeral of his rank mate near the Nakasero State Lodge.

“He was on his way to Kampala to attend the funeral service of comrade Maj Gen Francis Takirwa (RIP) at All Saints Cathedral in Nakasero,” Col Magezi wrote on X, explaining the death of the National Resistance Army (NRA) revolutionary.

The cause of his death

“Maj Gen Sande developed breathing complications along the way and efforts to resuscitate him at a hospital facility in Mpigi failed. The exact cause of death will be ascertained later,” he added.

Maj. Gen. Sande previously commanded the UPDF Armoured Division in Kasijjagirwa, Masaka District—a critical unit overseeing the military’s mechanized operations.

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The death of this senior officer comes just days after the passing of Maj. Gen. Francis Takirwa, whom he was travelling to honour, marking a difficult week for the UPDF’s senior leadership.

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Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces General Muhoozi Kainerugaba in a Past Address. PHOTO/ BBC