Kasijjagirwa Division Commander Maj Gen Deus Sande Dead

Major General Deus Sande Karachi, the Commander of the Kasijjagirwa Armoured Division based in Masaka City, has died.

Gen. Sande passed away Wednesday morning while being transported to Kampala for advanced medical care.

His death was confirmed by the Armoured Division spokesperson, Major Teddy Anena, who declined to provide further details.

The deceased reportedly fell ill in the early hours of Wednesday and was rushed to Kampala for treatment but breathed his last en route.

Masaka City Resident Commissioner Ahamada Washaki said they received the news with shock, noting that the commander had not been known to be ill and had continued performing his duties.

“Let us wait for the full details from the medical teams, that will tell us what exactly happened,” he said.

Gen. Sande was promoted from the rank of Brigadier in March last year. He had served as Commander of the Kasijjagirwa Armoured Brigade since his deployment in 2020 and oversaw its elevation to a Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) division in March 2025.

Brig. Gen. Sande drew national attention during the 2021 presidential elections when he made political remarks that sparked controversy and raised questions about his role as a serving army officer. He publicly declared that the UPDF would not allow anyone outside the NRM establishment to assume the presidency.

His death comes barely a week after the passing of another senior UPDF commander, Major General Francis Takirwa, the Acting Deputy Commander of the Land Forces, who died following a short illness.