Military Detains Ugandan Priest for "Subversive Activities" - Diocese Spoke of "Kidnapping"
Rev Ssekabira was last seen on 3 December. According to the Masaka Diocese, he was taken from his office in Katwe, Masaka City, by men wearing Uganda Army uniforms, who put him into an unmarked vehicle.
The diocese described the incident as a 'kidnapping' and expressed deep alarm, calling for prayers and legal action amid fruitless efforts to trace him.
For nearly two weeks after his disappearance, neither security agencies nor police publicly confirmed knowledge of his whereabouts.
The Uganda Police Force initially said it was “verifying” social media claims of an abduction.
On 14 December 2025, the UPDF issued a brief statement acknowledging that they were holding Rev. Ssekabira. They alleged that he had been arrested for 'involvement in violent subversive activities against the state' and was in lawful custody to assist ongoing investigations.
The statement, signed by the Acting Director of Defence Public Information, Colonel Chris Magezi, said that the priest would be produced in court and charged accordingly.
However, it provided no specifics on the nature of the alleged activities.
The priest’s detention comes as Uganda prepares for a general election scheduled for 15 January 2026.
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