Senior military leaders, government officials, and hundreds of mourners on February 15, 2026, gathered in Kabale District to pay their last respects to former Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) Armoured Division Commander, Maj. Gen. Deus Sande Karachi.

Maj. Gen. Deus Karachi Sande, who served as Commander of the UPDF Armoured Division, was laid to rest at his ancestral home in Kacuro Village, Kigata Parish, Kyanamira Sub-county, Ndorwa East County, Kabale District.

The late senior officer, who died on February 11, 2026, after suffering respiratory complications, was accorded full military honours, including a 13-gun salute. The burial ceremony was marked by emotional tributes highlighting his legacy of sacrifice, professionalism, and loyalty to the nation.

The Joint Staff Political Commissariat, Gen. Henry Masiko, represented the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, and described the fallen General as an officer of unique character who balanced military duty with personal life. Gen. Masiko said Maj. Gen. Sande was dependable, accessible, and always available to those who needed him.

Former Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Wilson Mbasu Mbadi, who represented the government, described the late Maj. Gen. Deus Sande as a devoted UPDF servant who remained determined and focused throughout his service. Gen. Mbadi said the late officer was results-oriented and credited his dedication as part of the foundation for Uganda’s current stability. He urged serving soldiers to reflect on the legacy they will leave behind and to emulate Maj. Gen. Sande’s contribution to peace and national stability.

During the burial Mass, Rev. Fr. Davis Keinamura, the Kabale Diocesan Financial Administrator, who represented the Bishop of Kabale Diocese, Rt. Rev. Callistus Rubaramira, said the late General would be remembered as a God-fearing man whose faith was evident from his early years. Fr. Keinamura revealed that even as a teenager, Sande would trek from home to Rushoroza Cathedral to volunteer as an altar boy.

Fr. Keinamura also noted that Maj. Gen. Sande was a generous donor who was, at the time of his death, renovating a primary school in Kacuro, Kigata Parish, where he began his education. He added that the late officer also donated construction materials, including iron sheets, to churches in Kabale District, Masaka, and Entebbe.

Speaking on behalf of the family, the widow, Mrs. Annet Sande, described her husband as a pillar who cared not only for his biological children but also extended support to many others.

She expressed appreciation to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the UPDF leadership for the confidence and trust they placed in her husband through various command and staff appointments during his military career.