MASAKA.
Brig Gen Jackson Pande Kajuba has officially assumed office as Commander of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces Armoured Division, succeeding the late Maj Gen Deus Sande, with a renewed focus on operational readiness and troop welfare.
Brig Gen Jackson Pande Kajuba has officially assumed office as Commander of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) Armoured Division, succeeding the late Maj Gen Deus Sande.
Maj Gen Sande passed away last week in Mpigi District after reportedly developing breathing complications while en route to All Saints Cathedral, Nakasero, in Kampala to attend the funeral of the late Maj Gen Francis Takirwa, former Deputy Commander of the UPDF Land Forces.
Following Maj Gen Sande’s passing, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Senior Presidential Advisor for Special Operations (SPA/SO), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, appointed Brig Gen Kajuba to lead the Armoured Division, headquartered in Masaka.
The appointment underscores the UPDF’s commitment to stable and effective leadership within its key formations.
In the same reshuffle, Wilson Bagonza Rwakanara of the Special Forces Command was promoted to Brigadier General and appointed Deputy Commander of the Armoured Division.
The handover ceremony was presided over by Maj Gen Joseph Musoke Ssemwanga, Deputy Commander of the Land Forces, who highlighted the importance of operational preparedness.
“In today’s dynamic security environment, maintaining combat readiness in both personnel and equipment is not optional — it is a fundamental obligation. We must continue to prioritise troop welfare, enforce discipline, and strengthen teamwork at all levels to guarantee operational effectiveness and mission success,” Ssemwanga said.
He also urged officers and soldiers to remain steadfast in their professionalism and uphold the core values of the UPDF while executing their constitutional mandate.
The ceremony was attended by officers and soldiers of the Armoured Division, who pledged their support to the new leadership as the unit continues to play a pivotal role in safeguarding Uganda’s national security.