One of the most shocking episodes to hit the Catholic Church in Uganda in 2025 was the abduction and subsequent prosecution of Rev. Fr. Ssekabira Deusdedit, a priest of Masaka Diocese and curate of Bumangi Parish in Kalangala District.
Fr. Ssekabira was abducted on the afternoon of 3 December 2025 from his offices in Katwe, Masaka City, by armed men reportedly in military uniform.
Witnesses said he was forcibly bundled into a waiting drone and driven to an undisclosed location. News of his disappearance spread rapidly across Masaka, Uganda, and beyond, triggering outrage among the faithful, activists, lawyers, and civil society organisations, who demanded his immediate and unconditional release.
On 13 December 2025, the Bishop of Masaka Diocese, Rt. Rev. Serverus Jjumba, officially informed Christians of the diocese that the priest had been kidnapped by men in Uganda Army uniform.
The bishop said all efforts to trace Fr. Ssekabira had failed and called on the faithful to observe a rosary triduum, praying the sorrowful mysteries for his safe return.
A day later, on 14 December, the UPDF spokesperson, Col. Chris Magezi, for the first time confirmed that Fr. Ssekabira was in the custody of security forces, alleging that he was being investigated for involvement in “violent subversive activities against the state.” He said the priest was under lawful detention to aid investigations.
In a dramatic turn of events, Fr. Ssekabira was produced before the Masaka Chief Magistrate’s Court on 23 December 2025 under heavy security and charged with money laundering.
According to the charge sheet seen by this publication, prosecutors allege that between 2023 and 2025, at Centenary Bank Masaka Branch, the priest and others still at large intentionally concealed or disguised the true ownership of Shs500 million, knowing or suspecting the money to be proceeds of crime.
The priest was not allowed to take plea, as the offence is only triable by the High Court. Masaka Grade One Magistrate Abdallah Kayiza remanded him to Masaka Main Prison until 21 January 2026, when the matter is due for mention.
It has since emerged that Fr. Ssekabira, with the backing of Masaka Diocese, has assembled a high-powered legal team to fight the charges and pursue his release on bail.
The defence team is led by veteran city lawyer Sam Ssekyewa of Ssekyewa Matovu & Co. Advocates, alongside diocesan legal officer and Masaka Bar President, Lule Alexander of Xander Advocates.
Ssekyewa, a long-time personal lawyer and close associate of the priest, is widely regarded as one of the leading criminal defence lawyers in the Greater Masaka region.
He is best known for his role in the defence of suspects in the Manya School fire case, where one of the accused facing more than 47 counts, including murder and arson, was acquitted.
He was named Outstanding Lawyer of the Year in Greater Masaka for two consecutive years, 2024 and 2025.
Speaking earlier, Ssekyewa revealed that following the priest’s arrest, the defence team wrote to several authorities—including the Inspector General of Police Abbas Byakagaba, the Regional Police Commander and CID officers for Masaka East, and the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs—demanding disclosure of Fr. Ssekabira’s whereabouts, the grounds of his arrest, and access to their client.
It had initially been widely speculated that the priest’s arrest was linked to an ongoing land dispute with one of his sisters over a prime property housing a school in Samaliya, Nyendo–Mukungwe Division, Masaka City—a matter that remains before court.
Also on the defence team is Lule Alexander, popularly known as “Xander,” the President of the Masaka Bar and Acting Central Region Representative to the Uganda Law Society Governing Council.
Lule, who serves as legal counsel to Masaka Diocese, was named Human Rights Lawyer of the Year in Greater Masaka in 2025 and is recognised for his wide-ranging practice across all courts.
With battle lines now clearly drawn, Fr. Ssekabira is banking on the expertise of his legal team to secure bail and ultimately clear his name. If convicted, the offence of money laundering carries a penalty of up to 15 years’ imprisonment, a fine not exceeding Shs2 billion, or both.
The priest remains on remand at Masaka Main Prison and is expected to reappear in court on 21 January 2026.
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