Family members and friends are mourning the passing of Maj Gen Deus Sande, Commander of the UPDF Armored Division, who passed away in Masaka on Tuesday morning.
He was en route to Kampala to attend the funeral of the late Maj Gen Francis Takirwa at All Saints Cathedral, Nakasero.
At his ancestral home in Ruboronga Village, Kitaga Parish, Kyanamira Sub-county in Kabale District, relatives and friends gradually gathered to console one another.
Valence Katimba, the elder brother of Gen Sande, described him as a unifying figure who related well with people from all walks of life.
“He played a significant role in supporting church activities and contributing to the development of schools,” he said.
Other family members, including his brother-in-law William Julius Katweriomunda and his aunt Tufererina Borwoba, reflected on the final days they spent with him.
“He had been with us since Sunday last week and informed us that he was traveling to Mbarara for a burial,” relatives said.
“Whenever he returned to the village, he would socialise with everyone in the community.”
At Kacuro Primary School, where Gen Sande studied, headteacher Eric Birebiremu praised him as an instrumental figure in the school’s development.
“The late Gen Sande contributed towards the construction of classroom blocks and the improvement of the school’s infrastructure,” Birebiremu said.
Maj. Gen. Sande is remembered as a dedicated officer, community supporter, and a figure who bridged both military service and community development.
