Lt Gen Innocent Kabandana dies after illness, RDF Confirms
The Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) has announced the death of Lieutenant General Innocent Kabandana, who passed away on September 7, 2025, at the Rwanda Military Hospital in Kanombe. According to the RDF, the senior officer died of natural causes after spending several days under medical care.
In an official statement, the RDF expressed its condolences to the family of the late general, noting that the force stands in solidarity with them during this difficult period. “May he rest in peace,” the statement read.
Lt Gen Kabandana was a veteran officer who joined the Rwandan Patriotic Army in 1990 and played a crucial role in the liberation struggle, which ultimately halted the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Over the years, he rose through the military ranks, gaining respect for his leadership and service.
His military career also extended beyond Rwanda’s borders. In 2021, Kabandana was appointed to lead Rwanda’s counter-terrorism mission in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado Province, where Rwandan troops have been fighting Islamist insurgents. His efforts were recognized in September 2022 when President Paul Kagame promoted him to the rank of Lieutenant General.
The RDF said funeral arrangements will be communicated in due course as the nation prepares to bid farewell to one of its distinguished commanders.
