KAMPALA, UGANDA – Brigadier General Pande Kajuba has officially assumed office as Commander of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) Armoured Division, succeeding the late Major General Deus Sande.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The handover ceremony was held at the division headquarters in Masaka and presided over by the Deputy Commander of Land Forces, Major General Joseph Musoke Semwanga.
Presiding over the ceremony, Maj Gen Semwanga underscored the division’s critical mandate of maintaining rigorous combat readiness.
He stated that strength lies in both equipment and the well-being of personnel, while urging the new command to uphold discipline and teamwork for sustained effectiveness.
He emphasized the non-negotiable importance of combat readiness and urged a seamless transition under the new command built on the essential pillars of troop welfare, discipline, and teamwork.
Brig Gen Kajuba steps into the role following his appointment by General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations.
Prior to this promotion, Kajuba served as the Deputy Commander of the division under the late Maj Gen Sande, a position that provides him with intimate knowledge of the unit’s operations and personnel.
The handover ceremony was held against the somber backdrop of the recent passing of Maj Gen Deus Sande, a distinguished military officer who died on February 11, 2026, due to hypertensive heart disease.
Maj Gen Sande, born July 26, 1964, in Kabale District, joined the UPDF on May 5, 1989. He passed away while en route to the funeral of his colleague, Maj Gen Francis Takirwa.
Over his long and distinguished career, he held numerous critical positions, including Officer in Command of a mechanized regiment and Instructor at the Armoured Brigade Headquarters, before being appointed to command the Armoured Division in Masaka City.
He drew national attention during the 2021 general elections for his outspoken stance on the UPDF’s role in safeguarding the Constitution.
The late commander was laid to rest on February 15, 2026, at his ancestral home in Kabale District, where he was accorded full military honors, including a solemn 13-gun salute, in line with his distinguished service.
