Uganda’s military has confirmed it is holding a Catholic priest who disappeared nearly two weeks ago, accusing him of participating in "violent subversive activities." Father Deusdedit Ssekabira is in "lawful custody" and is expected to face charges in court, the armed forces said.
The Diocese of Masaka had previously reported that Father Ssekabira was "kidnapped by men in Uganda Army uniform," but has yet to respond to the military’s claims.
His disappearance has intensified concerns over human rights as the country prepares for elections next month, with reports of enforced disappearances and detentions without trial drawing international attention.
Masaka Bishop Serverus Jjumba said the priest was taken on December 3, calling the incident a "grievous wound inflicted on Masaka Diocese, the entire Catholic Church and Father Ssekabira's family." He added, "[The diocese] and our lawyers are still doing whatever is in our means to get back our priest unharmed."
Before the military acknowledged the detention, the national police had commented on social media that they were "currently verifying" reports of the priest’s abduction and would provide updates once they confirmed the facts.
Opposition leader Bobi Wine condemned the military’s actions, saying the army had "no place detaining civilians." Wine, who will face President Yoweri Museveni in next month’s election, said many of his supporters have been taken by security forces. He wrote on X, "[It is] what Museveni has turned Uganda into."
The case mirrors previous high-profile disappearances. In October, two Kenyan human rights activists went missing for five weeks after being abducted while attending a Wine campaign event, only to be later released. Museveni described their detention, calling them "experts in riots" who were put "in the fridge for some days."
Ugandan security agencies have been accused for years of arresting opposition figures and supporters without uniforms, sometimes resurfacing in court facing criminal charges.
Last year, opposition politician Kizza Besigye vanished in Nairobi for four days before appearing in a military court in Uganda. He remains imprisoned on treason charges, which he denies.
