Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has been left deeply shaken following the back-to-back deaths of two senior generals of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), Major General Deus Sande and Major General Francis Takirwa.
In a statement issued, Muhoozi described the loss of Maj. Gen. Deus Sande, the Commander of the Armoured Division, as a devastating blow to the country’s armed forces.
He praised Sande as a long-serving and dedicated officer whose contribution to the UPDF would not be forgotten.
According to the UPDF’s acting Director of Defence Public Information, Colonel Chris Magezi, Maj. Gen. Sande collapsed while travelling to Kampala to attend the funeral service of his colleague, Maj. Gen. Francis Takirwa, at All Saints Cathedral Nakasero.
He reportedly developed breathing complications and died despite efforts to save his life at a hospital in Mpigi.
Maj. Gen. Francis Takirwa passed away on February 7, 2026, after suffering stroke-related complications. He had been undergoing treatment since December 2025 and later transferred to a UPDF medical facility, where he died.
Both generals were respected figures within the military.
Sande had recently been promoted by President Yoweri Museveni and previously served in key security roles, including assignments linked to regional operations and a stint with the UPDF contingent under African Union Mission in Somalia.
Takirwa, on the other hand, served as Acting Deputy Commander of Land Forces and held several leadership positions since joining the army in 1989. His death marked the end of a long and distinguished military career.
As the UPDF mourns the two senior officers, tributes continue to pour in, highlighting their service and the significant loss to Uganda’s security establishment.