Masaka City, Uganda: The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) have confirmed that a Catholic priest who had been reported missing in Masaka City is in lawful military custody over alleged involvement in violent subversive activities against the state.
In a press statement dated December 14, 2025, UPDF’s Acting Director of Defence Public Information, Col Chris Magezi, said Rev. Fr. Deusdedit Ssekabira of the Masaka Diocese was recently arrested by security agencies and is currently detained to assist with ongoing investigations.
“This is to confirm that Rev. Fr. Deusdedit SSEKABIRA of Masaka Diocese was recently arrested by the security forces for involvement in violent subversive activities against the state. Rev. Fr. SSEKABIRA is currently in lawful custody to assist with further investigations into the matter,” Col Magezi wrote.
“He will be produced in the courts of law and charged accordingly.”
The UPDF clarification followed days of uncertainty after Masaka Diocese raised concern over the priest’s disappearance.
In a letter dated December 13, the Diocese said Rev. Fr. Ssekabira, a curate at Bumangi Parish and Director of Uplift Primary School, had allegedly been abducted by men in army uniform on December 3, 2025, in Katwe, Masaka City.
The Bishop of Masaka, Rt. Rev. Severus Jjumba described the priest’s disappearance as a painful development for the Diocese and the wider Catholic Church, noting that initial efforts to trace him had not yielded results.
The UPDF’s confirmation that Rev. Fr. Ssekabira is in state custody has shifted focus to the pending court process, as the public awaits clarification on the specific charges to be preferred against him.
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