UgandaToday: Fr. Ssekabira Case Attracts Alarm Over Rule of Law as ULS President Questions Military Involvement
Masaka, Uganda — The arrest and detention of Catholic priest Fr. Deusdedit Ssekabira has exploded a fresh national debate on constitutionalism, due process, and the growing role of the military in civilian justice, following sharp criticism from Uganda Law Society (ULS) President Isaac Ssemakadde.
What began as criminal allegations involving subversive activities against state to a new case of alleged money laundering has, according to Ssemakadde, exposed deeper and more troubling questions about the state of the rule of law in Uganda.
Alleged Abduction and Prolonged Detention
According to information presented by the ULS President, Fr. Ssekabira, a civilian cleric, was allegedly abducted in broad daylight by men wearing military uniform. He was reportedly held incommunicado for nearly three weeks without being produced before a court of law, in apparent violation of the constitutional requirement that suspects be arraigned within 48 hours.
The prolonged detention, conducted outside the supervision of any competent judicial authority, has raised concerns among legal observers and civil society actors.
Court Appearance Raises Jurisdiction Questions
When Fr. Ssekabira was eventually brought before a magistrate’s court, the proceedings took an unusual turn. The presiding magistrate reportedly openly admitted that the court lacked jurisdiction to try the case.
Legal analysts argue that this admission raises serious questions about the purpose of the court appearance itself. Critics have asked whether the arraignment was merely procedural theatre intended to sanitise what they describe as an otherwise unlawful detention.
Conflicting Charges Deepen Confusion
Further controversy has arisen from contradictory narratives issued by state actors. In court, Fr. Ssekabira was charged with money laundering involving Shs 500 million, a civilian offence governed by established criminal procedure.
However, outside court, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) reportedly introduced a far graver allegation, accusing the priest of involvement in “violent subversive activities against the state.”
Legal experts note that the two allegations are fundamentally different in nature and legal consequence. While money laundering falls squarely within civilian criminal law, accusations of subversion have historically been used to justify militarised detention and the suspension of constitutional safeguards.
“You Cannot Run a Democracy by Press Statements”
Ssemakadde has criticised what he described as the substitution of constitutional processes with military press statements, warning that national security claims cannot override the supremacy of the Constitution.
“If Fr. Ssekabira is suspected of committing an offence, the law is clear,” Ssemakadde argued. “Arrest him lawfully, charge him promptly, produce him before a competent court within 48 hours, and prosecute him transparently. Anything else amounts to illegal detention disguised as national security threat.”
Wider Implications for Civil Liberties
While emphasising that priests are not above the law, Ssemakadde warned that the state is equally not above the Constitution. He cautioned that if such treatment can be meted out to a Catholic priest in Masaka, it sets a dangerous precedent for journalists, lawyers, activists, and ordinary citizens.
“This is not just about Fr. Ssekabira,” he noted. “It is about whether Uganda is governed by law or by military force.”
A Test for Constitutionalism
The case has become a litmus test for Uganda’s commitment to constitutional governance. History, Ssemakadde warned, has repeatedly shown that when military power replaces judicial authority, justice is the first casualty — and freedom soon follows.
As the matter unfolds, legal bodies, human rights defenders, and the public will be watching closely to see whether constitutional safeguards are upheld or further eroded.
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