Deputy government spokesperson, Col (Rtd) Shaban Bantariza is dead.

The Deputy Director of the Uganda Media Centre (UMC) and Deputy government spokesperson, Col (Rtd) Shaban Bantariza has Tuesday morning died from Mulago Hospital, according to Ofwono Opondo, the UMC Executive Director.

“I hereby with deep sorrow regret to announce the death of my Deputy, Shaban Bantariza that occurred early this morning at Mulago Hospital where he had been in admission since Sunday with hypertension,” writes Opondo on Twitter.

Bantariza who was born in Mitooma District in Uganda’s Western Region, circa 1963, served as the UPDF spokesperson from 2000 to 2002 and from 2003 to 2006. For a period of time, prior to February 2009, Batanzira, at the rank of lieutenant colonel, served as the commander of the Oliver Tambo Leadership School, in Kaweweta, Nakaseke District.

On February 26, 2009, he was appointed commandant of the National Leadership Institute (NALI), in Kyankwanzi, Kyankwanzi District. He served in that capacity until he was relieved of his duties on October 7, 2011.