Deputy Govt Spokesperson Col Shaban Bantariza Confirmed Dead

The Deputy Executive Director of the Uganda Media Centre, Col Shaban Bantariza has died and this sad news has been confirmed by the spokesperson of the Uganda People's Defense Forces, Brig. Flavia Byekwaso.

"The UPDF family with great sadness have learnt of the passing on of the deputy Executive director of Uganda Media Centre and deputy government spokesman Rtd Col Shaban Bantariza at Mulago national referral hospital. May his soul rest in peace," she said in a tweet.

Col. Bantariza died in the wee hours of Tuesday, October 27 morning at the age of 57.

Bantariza is a retired colonel in the Uganda People’s Defense Forces. He was serving as the deputy director of the Uganda Media Centre and deputy government spokesperson, since June 2015.

I have learnt with shock the death of a great lion, Col. Shaban Bantariza. He embodied the liberal spirit of UPDF. As it’s spokesman he was a regular on my KFM radio show, Andrew Mwenda Live, where he faced heavy fire but held is ground with tenacious zeal & took no offense. RIP pic.twitter.com/VXaArxTFfH

— Andrew M. Mwenda (@AndrewMwenda) October 27, 2020