EDITOR
The Deputy Commander of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Land Forces, Major General Francis Takirwa, has died.
Maj Gen Takirwa, 61, passed away on Saturday morning, according to sources familiar with the matter. By press time, the UPDF had not yet issued an official statement detailing the cause of death, although it was reported that he had been unwell for some time.
Maj Gen Takirwa was a seasoned military officer who dedicated more than three decades of service to the UPDF, rising steadily through the ranks and serving in key command and administrative positions.
Career and Service
He joined the UPDF in 1989 and underwent extensive military training both locally and internationally. In 1994, he completed the Junior Command and Staff Course at the Uganda Junior Staff College in Jinja. He later attended the Company Commanders Course at the Tanzania Military Academy in Monduli in 1998.
In 2006, Maj Gen Takirwa completed the Army Senior Command Course at the Nanjing Army Command College in Nanjing, China. He further advanced his strategic training by earning a Diploma in African Strategic Studies from the Nasser Higher Military Academy in Giza, Egypt, in 2009, and later completed an Executive National Security Programme at the South African National Defence College.
Between 2011 and 2012, he served under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), contributing to regional peace and security efforts.
Throughout his career, Maj Gen Takirwa held several senior roles within the UPDF, including Chief of Education, Sports and Culture, and Commander of the 2nd UPDF Division. He attained the rank of Colonel in 2014, was later promoted to Brigadier General, and rose to the rank of Major General in 2021.
In 2022, he was appointed Deputy Commander of the UPDF Land Forces, a position he held until his death.
The UPDF is expected to issue an official statement and announce funeral arrangements in due course.
