Uganda Media center has announced that their deputy executive director Col Shaban Bantariza, is dead.

Bantariza passed on Tuesday morning at Mulago National Referral Hospital where he had been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.

It was confirmed in a tweet on Uganda Media Center handle that reads;

The Executive Director, @OfwonoOpondowith deep sorrow announces the death of his Deputy, Col @ShabanBantariza
that occurred early this morning at Mulago Hospital where he had been in admission since Sunday evening with hypertension.

The cause of his death remains scanty although information coming through says the Bantariza succumbed to high blood pressure.
Other sources claim he could have died of COVID-19.

Messages of condolence to his sudden demise keep trickling in for instance a statement by the UPDF spokesperson, Brig. Flavia Byekwso confirmed the development.

“The UPDF family with great sadness have learned of the passing on of the Deputy Executive Director of the Uganda Media Centre and deputy government spokesperson, rtd.Col.Shaban Bantriza at Mulago national referral hospital. May his soul rest in peace,” Brig. Byekwaso said.

The senior presidential press secretary Don Wanyama, has equally mourned Bantariza describing his death as a sad day for the country.

Prior to his demise, he had declared interest in contesting as a representative of the western region on NRM’s Central Executive Committee.

He was Born in Mitooma District in 1963, joined the National Resistance Army-NRA in 1985, just a year before they took over power in a military coup.

Bantariza served as the UPDF spokesperson from 2000 to 2002 and from 2003 to 2006.

He also served as the commander of the Oliver Tambo Leadership School, in Kaweweta, Nakaseke District, in Uganda’s Central Region.

On 26 February 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 7 October 2011.
In June 2013, he was appointed as Deputy Executive Director of the National Media Centre.