UPDF Armoured Division Commander Maj Gen Deus Sande Dies After Suspected Heart Attack
Maj Gen Deus Sande
By skika reporter .
The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) are mourning the sudden death of Maj Gen Deus Sande, the commander of the Armoured Division, who died Wednesday morning following a suspected heart attack near Mpigi.
Maj Gen Sande was reportedly travelling from Masaka to Kampala to serve as sword-bearer at the funeral of Maj Gen Francis Takirwa, the former Deputy Commander of Land Forces, when he fell ill. Military sources said he was rushed to Mpigi General Hospital for emergency oxygen before being transferred to Nakasero Hospital in Kampala, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
His death comes just days after the passing of Maj Gen Takirwa, in whose funeral arrangements Sande had been scheduled to participate.
Maj Gen Sande was promoted to his current rank in March 2025 by the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba. He previously commanded the Masaka-based Kasajjagirwa Barracks and rose to national prominence during the 2021 general election period following remarks that drew criticism from opposition leaders.
In October 2020, while serving as a brigadier, Sande told National Resistance Movement mobilisers that the military was not prepared to hand over power to the opposition. The comments sparked backlash from opposition figures who argued that they contravened provisions of the UPDF Act requiring political neutrality. The army later distanced the institution from the remarks, though Sande remained in service and continued his rise through the ranks.
In recent months, Sande had publicly called for reconciliation following the January 2026 general elections, urging Ugandans to focus on economic development initiatives such as agriculture and the Parish Development Model.
Beyond his military duties, he was known in the greater Masaka region for mediating local leadership disputes and overseeing security operations during the wave of unexplained killings that affected the area in 2021.
The UPDF had not by press time issued an official statement detailing funeral arrangements. The burial of Maj Gen Takirwa remains scheduled for Thursday.
