UPDF's deputy commander Land Forces Maj. Gen Takirwa dead

KAMPALA - The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) deputy commander land forces, Maj Gen Francis Takirwa, has died.

Gen Takirwa died on Saturday(February 07) morning after a short illness, security sources said. 

According to Col. Chris Magezi, the Acting Director Defence Public Information, Maj. Gen. Takirwa passed on at the UPDF National Referral Hospital, Mbuya. He died from stroke complications.

Col. Magezi said the General was initially admitted at Nakasero Hospital from December 9, 2025, until Friday, February 6, 2026, when he was referred to the UPDF facility for long-term care and management.

"Until his illness, Major General Takirwa served as the Deputy Commander of the UPDF Land Forces headquartered in Bombo. We condole with his family, relatives, and friends. Details of burial arrangements will be communicated later, " Col. Magezi stated in a post on social site X.

In 2022, he was appointed acting Deputy Commander Land Forces, and in December 2022, he was confirmed in the same position by President Yoweri Museveni, who is the Commander in Chief of the armed forces.

According to his profile on the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs website, before he was appointed Deputy Commander Land Forces, General Takirwa served as the commanding officer of the Second Division of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces in Mbarara.

The deceased also had a long history of service in the Ugandan military dating back to 1989. Throughout his career, he held various leadership roles, including a tour in Somalia as part of the UPDF contingent to the African Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) from 2011 to 2012.

He also served as the chief of Education, Sports, and Culture in the UPDF. He took over from Lt. General Kayanja Muhanga, who had left to pursue further studies at the South African National Defence College.

By press time, the UPDF had not yet released details about the funeral arrangements.