Mpigi, Uganda: Maj Gen Deus Sande Karachi, the Commander of the UPDF Armoured Brigade, who reportedly collapsed and died while en route to Kampala in the early hours of Wednesday, was travelling to attend the funeral of Maj Gen Francis Takirwa, where he was scheduled to serve as a sword-bearer during the burial proceedings.
A military source who spoke to this publication on condition of anonymity as they’re not authorised to speak for the army, said the general suffered a heart attack near Mpigi as he travelled to Kampala.
“I suspect he suffered a heart attack. His soldiers rushed him to Mpigi Referral Hospital for oxygen. His condition worsened, and he was later moved to Nakasero Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival,” the source explained.
By the time DailyExpress broke this story on Wednesday at 8 am, there had been no official information regarding the exact cause of Gen Sande’s death, and the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) too, was yet to issue an official statement confirming the circumstances.
Second General in a Week
Gen Sande’s death comes barely a week after the passing of Maj Gen Francis Takirwa, the former Deputy Commander of Land Forces, whose burial is scheduled for Thursday.
The back-to-back deaths of two senior UPDF generals have sent shockwaves through the military establishment and the wider public.
Maj Gen Sande had gained public attention around 2020 over remarks perceived by some as partisan during his service. He was promoted last year and was serving as a senior commander within the mechanised forces at the time of his death.
Funeral arrangements for Gen Sande are yet to be officially announced.
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