Скачать или смотреть How Did We Get Here?: The Shocking Reaction to Gen. Sande's Death.

UPDF Armoured Division Commander Maj. Gen. Deus Sande died early Wednesday in Mpigi after reportedly falling ill while traveling to attend the funeral of Maj. Gen. Francis Takirwa in Kampala. As the army awaits post-mortem results—amid reports suggesting a possible heart attack—the news of his sudden death has sent shockwaves through the country.

But beyond the official statements and condolences, another reaction quickly surfaced—one far more unsettling. Sections of the opposition flooded social media with celebratory messages, sharing old video clips in which the late general appeared to declare that the military was not prepared to hand over power to anyone. For some, his death was not a moment of mourning, but of vindication.

I unequivocally reject the normalization of celebrating anyone’s death, regardless of political differences. Yet the disturbing public reaction raises uncomfortable questions. What level of anger, pain, or resentment must exist for people to greet death with applause? Was he viewed by some not merely as a military officer, but as a symbol of political repression?

This episode exposes a nation dangerously polarized—where grief and gloating now coexist in the same public square. When political opponents are routinely labeled “terrorists” or “enemies of the state,” the language of dehumanization inevitably filters down into society. The result is a culture where empathy erodes and hostility thrives.

If Uganda is to escape this cycle of bitterness, its leaders must set a different tone. Healing cannot begin in an atmosphere of contempt. The question is whether those at the helm are willing to lead that change—or whether the rhetoric that fuels division will continue to deepen the cracks in an already fractured nation.