Africa-Press – Uganda. The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has paid tribute to the late Major General Francis Takirwa, describing him as a decorated officer whose life was defined by service, discipline, and patriotism.
Lieutenant General James Mugira, representing the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, delivered a eulogy during a requiem mass at All Saints Cathedral in Nakasero, Kampala, extending condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the late Major General Takirwa.
He hailed him as a freedom fighter whose career contributed to Uganda’s liberation and the peace and stability the country enjoys today.
“Major General Takirwa answered the call of duty with unwavering courage and loyalty.
He was a true patriot and a decorated officer of the UPDF,” Lt. Gen. Mugira said.
Lt. Gen. Mugira recounted his long association with Takirwa, noting that they trained together in the mid-1990s at the Presidential Protection Unit (PPU) and later at the Monduli Company Commanders Course alongside other senior military leaders.
He highlighted Major General Takirwa’s distinguished military career, which began when he joined the force as a private soldier and rose through the ranks to a two-star general.
Over the years, he served in key positions including Officer Commanding the Special Company in the PPU, Second Regional Commander, Chief of Education, Sports and Culture in the UPDF, and Deputy Commander of Land Forces.
“Those who served under him knew a commander who demanded excellence, upheld standards, and led by example. His leadership strengthened the UPDF and inspired confidence in times of uncertainty,” Lt. Gen. Mugira said.
Major General Takirwa also undertook advanced military training in Uganda, India, China, and South Africa, gaining strategic and operational skills that he applied throughout his career. He played a role in several operations, including the 1999 mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Beyond his military record, he was remembered as humble and approachable, with a strong sense of humor.
“He was an officer and a gentleman. His smile and infectious warmth made everyone around him better,” Lt. Gen. Mugira said.
The UPDF said the legacy of Major General Francis Takirwa will live on through the values he upheld, the soldiers he mentored, and the institutions he helped build.
“His mission is complete, but his service will never be forgotten. His loyalty to his country is recorded with honor. May the Almighty receive his soul and grant him eternal rest,” Lt. Gen. Mugira concluded.
Major General Francis Takirwa, the UPDF Deputy Commander of Land Forces, died on Saturday following a long illness related to a stroke. He was born in 1965.
The State Minister for Internal Affairs, Gen. David Muhoozi, described the late Major General Takirwa as a loyal, calm, and professional soldier who stood out from his days as a cadet to his rise in the UPDF.
Speaking at the memorial service, Gen. Muhoozi said he trained and served with Maj. Gen. Takirwa for many years, beginning with the first large intake of cadet officers in the late 1980s. He recalled that Takirwa belonged to Intake 01 Long of 1988–1989, the first and largest group of homegrown cadet officers trained in Uganda with support from Tanzanian instructors.
“This was the first largest intake of cadet officers who were trained by Tanzanians… and who formed the first largest homegrown officer corps,” Gen. Muhoozi said.
According to the minister, before that intake, only a few officers had been trained in countries such as Nigeria and Tanzania. The 1988–1989 group marked a turning point in building Uganda’s own professional officer corps after the liberation struggle.
Gen. Muhoozi invited several members of that cadet cohort to stand up during the service, noting that they had shared training, commissioning, and early deployment with the late Takirwa.
“We commissioned on the same day in April 1989 and we were deployed in various units, and we went differently later on in life,” he said.
He added that they later met again for further training at the Monduli course in the early 1990s, alongside about 40 other officers, many of whom rose to senior ranks in the UPDF.
Gen. Muhoozi said training builds character and exposes a person’s true qualities.
“When you train with someone, you come to know them because training brings out your character,” he said.
Through those years of interaction, he said, Takirwa proved himself as a dependable and disciplined officer.
“Through those interactions, Takirwa was observed as a good man, a good officer, a good leader and a loyal friend,” Gen. Muhoozi said.
He described the fallen general as calm in difficult situations and committed to his duty as a soldier. Takirwa and Muhoozi also served together in different units over the years. Gen. Muhoozi noted that at one point he served as Takirwa’s deputy when Takirwa was a brigade commander in Patongo. Their professional relationship, he said, was built on mutual respect and shared experiences dating back to their early days in the army.
Maj. Gen. Francis Takirwa, who served as Deputy Commander of Land Forces, died following a long illness. He was among the first generation of locally trained cadet officers who later shaped the UPDF’s leadership structure.
Gen. Muhoozi said Takirwa’s life and service should be remembered by younger officers as an example of loyalty, discipline, and dedication to the country.
Major General Takirwa was born in 1965. He passed away on Saturday after a long illness related to a stroke.
His life and service are remembered in the many soldiers and institutions he mentored over four decades. He will be laid to rest tomorrow in Mbarara.
