UgandaToday: Alarm Over Reported Abductions of Fr. Deusdedit Ssekabira and Sarah Nambogo: Kyagulanyi Raises Red Flag on Growing Lawlessness
By Uganda Today Reporter
Cleric Reportedly Abducted in Masaka
Presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu has raised alarm over the reported disappearance of Rev. Fr. Deusdedit Ssekabira, a Youth Chaplain of Masaka Catholic Diocese, who is said to have been abducted several days ago.
According to information shared on Kyagulanyi’s official social media platforms, Rev. Fr. Ssekabira was allegedly taken by armed men traveling in a drone vehicle, registration number UBE 199F, in Masaka. Since the incident, his whereabouts remain unknown, triggering anxiety among clergy, believers, and human rights observers.
Woman Abducted in Broad Daylight in Kampala
In a separate but equally troubling incident, Sarah Nambogo was reportedly abducted on Tuesday from her workplace at Kampala Club, a high-security area in the capital.
Kyagulanyi disclosed that Nambogo was seized by armed operatives traveling in a Toyota Noah, registration number UBP 791G. Like the Masaka case, her current location has not been established, deepening fears over the safety of civilians even in public and supposedly secure spaces.
Pattern of Targeted Arrests Raises Concern
Kyagulanyi warned that the reported incidents fit into a widening pattern of abductions that Uganda has witnessed over recent years. He noted that previous victims have included Muslim clerics, opposition politicians and supporters, academics, civil society actors, and foreign nationals. “Now they are coming for Catholic priests and professionals,” Kyagulanyi cautioned, framing the developments as a national crisis rather than isolated cases.
Call for Collective Action and Rule of Law
Emphasizing civic responsibility, Kyagulanyi urged Ugandans to speak out against what he described as entrenched lawlessness, warning that silence only accelerates the breakdown of society. “There can be no heroes in a sinking boat,” he stated, calling for urgent action to restore the rule of law, accountability, and respect for human rights. Former government media conglomerate CEO turned ardent critic of government excesses Robert Kabushenga, summed it up with Martin Niemoller:
The Quote
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
—Martin Niemöller
Solidarity With Victims
As families, colleagues, and communities await information on the missing individuals, Kyagulanyi expressed solidarity with all those affected by what he termed brutal state repression, urging both national and international actors to take note. “Our thoughts are with all victims,” he said, reiterating his long-standing call for justice and democratic reform in Uganda.
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