Rev. Fr. Deusdedit Ssekabira
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I The arrest of Rev. Fr. Deusdedit Ssekabira, a Catholic priest from Masaka, has drawn national attention as the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) confirmed that he is being investigated over alleged involvement in subversive activities.
In a statement issued by the UPDF Director of Defence Public Information, Brig. Chris Magezi, the army said Fr Ssekabira was taken into custody to assist with ongoing investigations linked to activities considered a threat to national security. Magezi clarified that the priest is being held lawfully and will be produced before courts of law once investigations are complete.
“Fr Ssekabira is currently in lawful custody to assist with further investigations into the matter. He will be produced in the courts of law and charged accordingly,” Magezi said.
Fr Ssekabira, a curate at Bumangi Parish and director of Uplift Primary School in Masaka, was reportedly arrested on December 3 at about 1:00pm from his office in Katwe, Masaka City. Security sources indicate that investigators are probing his alleged links to activities deemed subversive, although details of the accusations have not yet been publicly disclosed.
The arrest has, however, triggered concern within the Catholic Church. In a statement dated December 13, 2025, Masaka Diocese Bishop Serverus Jjumba said the diocese had struggled to establish the priest’s whereabouts in the days following his arrest. He called on the faithful to pray for Fr Ssekabira, the Church and the country.
“All efforts to locate him have so far been fruitless. Masaka Diocese, together with our lawyers, is still doing whatever is in our means to get back our priest unharmed,” Bishop Jjumba said.
Earlier, on December 8, the bishop instructed all priests in the diocese to observe a Rosary Triduum, praying the Sorrowful Mysteries for three consecutive days in solidarity with their detained colleague.
Background to the case has also revived scrutiny of internal family disputes surrounding Uplift Primary School. In March 2022, Bukedde TV reported on a bitter family feud over the school’s management, in which one of Fr Ssekabira’s sisters was accused of mismanaging funds from a German donor. Sources say it was during this dispute that allegations linking the priest to subversive activities first emerged, reportedly after accusations from within the family.
As investigations continue, the UPDF maintains that due process will be followed, while the Church insists on the priest’s rights and safety, setting the stage for a case that blends national security concerns with deep religious and social sensitivities.
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