UgandaToday: UPDF Admits Holding Fr. Deusdedit Ssekabira After Initial Police Denial as Questions Mount Over Alleged Frame-Up
Masaka | UgandaToday Uganda’s security agencies are under renewed scrutiny following the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) admission that they are holding Rev. Fr. Deusdedit Ssekabira, a Catholic priest of Masaka Diocese, days after police authorities had publicly denied having him in custody.
The admission follows growing public pressure triggered by an earlier UgandaToday report in which the Masaka Catholic Diocese raised alarm over what it described as the abduction of Fr. Ssekabira from Bumangi, sparking outrage among clergy, rights activists, and sections of the public.
From Disappearance to Official Admission
When Fr. Ssekabira first went missing, police spokespeople reportedly told concerned family members and Church authorities that they were not holding the priest, deepening fears of an enforced disappearance — a practice repeatedly condemned by courts and rights organisations in Uganda.
It was only after sustained public outcry that the UPDF Department of Defence Public Information issued a press statement dated 14 December 2025, confirming that Fr. Ssekabira had been arrested and was in what the army termed “lawful custody” over allegations of involvement in violent subversive activities against the state.
The statement, signed by Col. Chris Magezi, Acting Director of Defence Public Information, did not disclose where Fr. Ssekabira was arrested, where he is being held, or why the military — rather than police — is handling what appears to be a civilian criminal matter.
Militarisation of Civilian Law Enforcement
The army’s intervention has reignited debate over the increasing militarisation of civilian law enforcement, with critics arguing that the UPDF has in recent years usurped the constitutional mandate of the Uganda Police Force, often operating without transparency or accountability.
Legal experts note that under Ugandan law, civilians accused of ordinary criminal offences should be arrested, investigated, and charged by the police, not the military — unless exceptional circumstances exist, which authorities are yet to clearly explain in this case.
Allegations of an Orchestrated Personal Vendetta
As the state advances claims of subversion, new information from close family sources and associates of Fr. Ssekabira paints a sharply different picture, suggesting the arrest may be the culmination of a personal and financial dispute, rather than a genuine security threat.
According to a detailed account circulating among concerned members of the Ssekabira family and charitable networks in Europe and the United States, the dispute centers on a charitable school founded with donations from benefactors in Germany, originally established by Fr. Ssekabira’s brother, Wasswa.
Sources allege that:
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The school was intended to operate strictly as a non-profit charitable institution.
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A sister of Fr. Ssekabira later assumed the role of bursar and attempted to convert the school into a private, profit-making venture.
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Fr. Ssekabira intervened after family disputes escalated, reportedly using his personal funds to bail out both siblings and later assuming administrative oversight with the backing of international charity partners.
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When the sister allegedly continued to demand a personal share of the school’s assets, Fr. Ssekabira refused, citing donor conditions and the school’s charitable mission.
Claims of Fabricated Charges
More troubling are allegations that the priest’s sister, described by family sources as having a romantic relationship with a senior police officer, subsequently fabricated claims that Fr. Ssekabira possessed illegal firearms at his residence — accusations his supporters strongly deny.
“These allegations are being viewed by those close to him as a deliberate attempt to criminalise and silence Fr. Ssekabira,” one concerned associate told UgandaToday, insisting the priest has no history of violence, militancy, or unlawful conduct.
UgandaToday has not independently verified these claims, and the UPDF has not responded to questions regarding the alleged family dispute or the specific evidence underpinning the accusations.
Church, Family Demand Due Process
The Catholic Church in Masaka, family members, and human-rights advocates are now calling for:
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Immediate access to Fr. Ssekabira by lawyers and Church representatives,
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Public disclosure of the charges and evidence against him,
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Respect for constitutional safeguards, including protection from unlawful detention.
As pressure mounts, the case of Fr. Deusdedit Ssekabira risks becoming another flashpoint in Uganda’s ongoing struggle over rule of law, civil liberties, and the expanding role of the military in civilian affairs.
UgandaToday will continue to follow this developing story.
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