Military Detains Ugandan Priest for "Subversive Activities" - Diocese Spoke of "Kidnapping"

Rev. Deusdedit Ssekabira, a Catholic priest from the Masaka Diocese, Uganda, is in custody of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). He was reported missing earlier this month, sparking national concern and debate over due process and military involvement in civilian detentions.
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 …More