Double Tragedy! UPDF Mourns Two Generals As Armored Division Commander Maj Gen Sande Dies

By Our Reporter

The Uganda People’s Defence Forces has been plunged into fresh grief following the untimely death of Major General Deus Sande, the Armored Division Commander based in Masaka, who passed away in the early hours of this morning while travelling to Kampala.

Maj Gen Sande reportedly developed acute breathing complications at around 3:45 a.m. while en route to attend the funeral of his colleague, Major General Francis Takirwa. He was rushed to a nearby health facility in Mpigi District, where medical personnel attempted to resuscitate him, but their efforts were unsuccessful.

His sudden demise deepens the sorrow already engulfing the UPDF fraternity, which had gathered to bid farewell to another fallen senior officer. Instead, the institution now finds itself mourning two generals within hours.

Maj Gen Deus Sande was a seasoned and battle hardened officer whose military career spanned decades of service within the UPDF’s armored and mechanized formations. As Armored Division Commander in Masaka, he oversaw one of the most strategically significant units in Uganda’s land forces, responsible for heavy combat capability, armored warfare readiness and territorial security across the greater southern corridor.

Known for his strict discipline, operational vigilance and deep institutional memory, Sande was regarded as one of the quiet but highly effective commanders within the force. His leadership in armored doctrine, training and deployment earned him respect among both subordinates and peers.

Colleagues often described him as a principled officer who prioritized professionalism, order and mission focus over public limelight. Within the ranks, he was seen as a commander who demanded excellence while maintaining a paternal regard for the welfare of his troops.

That Maj Gen Sande died while travelling to pay his last respects to a fellow general stands as a poignant reflection of his sense of duty and camaraderie. Even in a moment of institutional grief, he remained committed to standing with his comrades.

Military sources indicate that he had not previously shown signs of severe illness, making his passing both shocking and deeply unsettling to those close to him.

His death leaves a significant gap within the Armored Division’s command structure at a time when the UPDF continues to modernize and reorient its mechanized capabilities in response to evolving regional security dynamics.

The UPDF now faces the rare and painful circumstance of mourning two senior generals almost simultaneously. As funeral preparations for Maj Gen Francis Takirwa continue, arrangements are also expected to begin for Maj Gen Sande.

Senior military leadership is yet to issue a comprehensive statement, but sources confirm that the High Command has been notified and internal protocols for honoring a general officer have commenced.

Maj Gen Deus Sande will be remembered not for flamboyance, but for steadfast service, command discipline and unwavering loyalty to the institution he served for most of his life.

His passing marks the end of a significant chapter in armored military stewardship and adds another solemn page to the UPDF’s history of sacrifice and service.