KAMPALA, Uganda — The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces are mourning the sudden death of Maj. Gen. Deus Sande, the commander of the Armoured Division in Masaka, who died Wednesday morning after a suspected heart attack.
Sande was traveling to Kampala to serve as a sword-bearer at the funeral proceedings for Maj. Gen. Francis Takirwa when he fell ill near Mpigi. Military sources said Sande’s security detail rushed him to Mpigi Referral Hospital for oxygen before transferring him to Nakasero Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
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The general, who was promoted to his current rank last year, leaves behind a legacy marked by professional military service and a controversial tenure in Masaka that often drew him into the political fray.
Partisan controversy and 2021 election
Sande gained significant public attention during the 2021 general election cycle for remarks that critics and opposition leaders labeled as partisan. In October 2020, while addressing NRM mobilizers in Masaka, Sande stated that the military was not prepared to hand over power to politicians he described as ideologically bankrupt.
We are not planning a handover; actually, we are consolidating, Sande said at the time. He added that the army would not thoughtlessly relinquish control to those who might lead the country into anarchy.
These comments drew sharp rebukes from opposition figures, including Robert Kyagulanyi, known as Bobi Wine, and the leader of the Alliance for National Transformation, Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu. Muntu criticized Sande for violating the UPDF’s code of conduct, which requires officers to remain nonpartisan.
Later years and reconciliation
In the years following the contentious 2021 election, Sande appeared to shift his public tone toward reconciliation and community development. By early 2026, he was actively calling on National Unity Platform supporters to work alongside the government for national progress.
The election period is over. People should return to their work, Sande said in an interview just weeks before his death. He emphasized that the UPDF remained a neutral institution dedicated to protecting all Ugandans regardless of their political affiliation.
During his time at the helm of the Masaka Armoured Brigade at Kasajjagirwa Barracks, Sande was also involved in local conflict resolution, including mediating leadership wrangles within the Masaka Muslim community. He was known for encouraging local residents to embrace government poverty alleviation programs, such as the Parish Development Model.
The UPDF has not yet released an official statement regarding the funeral arrangements for Sande. The burial of Maj. Gen. Takirwa, whom Sande was traveling to honor, is scheduled for Thursday.
