The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has admitted being behind the kidnapping of Masaka Diocese priest Rev Fr Deusdedit Ssekabira.
Fr Ssekabira, assistant priest at Bumangi Parish in Kalangala district, was abducted on December 3 by armed operatives who picked him from the offices of his NGO, Universal Chastity Education, in Katwe Zone, Masaka City.
He was whisked away to an unknown location without explanation to his colleagues, family, or Church authorities, prompting days of frantic searches and mounting public concern.
His whereabouts remained unknown until Sunday evening, when the army, after nearly a week of silence, acknowledged holding him. In a statement signed by Col Chris Magezi, acting director of defence public information, the UPDF confirmed that the priest had been arrested by security forces over alleged involvement in “violent subversive activities against the state.”
Magezi said the priest is in “lawful custody” and is assisting investigators. “He will be produced in a court of law and charged accordingly,” he noted, without indicating when he is expected to appear before court.
The army’s admission follows sustained pressure from Masaka Diocese Bishop Severus Jjumba, priests, and relatives who have been demanding answers. On Saturday, Bishop Jjumba issued a public statement expressing “deep distress” over the priest’s kidnapping.
He said Church lawyers and family members had combed police stations and detention facilities for over a week, but in vain. The bishop declared three days of special prayers of the Sorrowful Mysteries, seeking divine intervention.
The UPDF statement also came just a day after the Diocese, through lawyer Alexander Lule Nkima, filed a habeas corpus petition in the Masaka High court, seeking orders compelling state security agencies to produce Ssekabira “in whatever condition he may be in.”
Lule said they are waiting for Fr Ssekabira to be produced before a competent court so that the exact charges can be known. He criticised security agencies for abducting the priest without following lawful arrest procedures, saying the incident has caused widespread fear among the faithful.
Mathias Mpuuga Nsamba, president of the Democratic Front and a relative of the priest, also challenged the state to bring him to court without delay and questioned why security agencies did not first engage diocesan authorities.
The arrest has triggered fresh debate about enforced disappearances, opaque security operations, and the treatment of religious figures who fall under state scrutiny.
“Mathias Mpuuga Nsamba, president of the Democratic Front and a relative of the priest, also challenged the state to bring him to court without delay and questioned why security agencies did not first engage diocesan authorities.” This is a former popular government leader of the Opposition who has been questioning government why it kidnaps Uganda citizens anyhow, arrest them or kill them for many years and counting. One wonders what exactly he is going to do this time round especially when his own brother faces a definite death sentence from this long serving dictatorship in this country?
I don’t trust mpuuga, mpuuga is snakey If you see him shaking his head while talking just check what will happen after a week. We saw him on segirinya.
BUT, who in his/her right state of mind can still deny that: to abduct a Catholic Priest, is to abduct the POPE and ALL CATHOLICS!
In other words, the WRITING IS ONE THE WALL. When a regime like the one we have is about to FALL, under a 85-years-old PROBLEM OF AFRICA: it starts committing all the stupidest things and ABOMINATIONS.
E.g., in May1977 committed abomination by murdering Archbishop Janani Luwum. And the rest was HISTORY.
On 11th April 1979, the era of terror and murder collapsed and the man and family scattered and had to ran for his life into the Sahara wilderness and thereafter into the Arabian Desert.
I repeat: the Demon that rode of Amin’s shoulders to jump over the dead bodies of Ugandans in order to forcefully enter our State House on 25th Jan 1971, and to abduct, torture, forcefully disappear and murder innocent Ugandans; is the SAME DEMON that hopped on the shoulders of our 85-years-old PROBLEM OF AFRICA, Gen Tibuhaburwa, to continue where Amin stopped: jumped over hundreds of thousands of innocent Ugandan dead bodies to enter our State House on 25th Jan 1986, to abduct, torture, forceful disappearances and/or malicious prosecution.
In other words, if in 40 years and counting Gen Tibuhaburwa has brought lasting peace to Uganda, WHY hasn’t he been awarded the NOBEL PEACE PRIZE?
Just asking!
Fr. Ssekabira simply “FORGOT” he is just a Priest, leave Politics to Politicians, ggwe bulira njiri ebilara ssi bibyo, remember that next time! World over, Religious leaders are arrested too!
In other words Wante, because WITH TIME they become the hotbed of EVIL; sometimes in cahoots with vane religious leaders, it is the Politicians who martyr religious leaders. That included e.g., the martyrdom of Jesus Christ: on the one hand, the unpopular, jealous and covetous Pharisees (party) Rabbi and Seduces (Party), and on the other was the Roman Puppet, King Herod who BLACKMAILED the Governor of Judea, Pilate into murdering Jesus and thereafter; thousands of early Christians, including ours herein Uganda.
AND Wante, have you forgotten the idea of the KINGDOM OF GOD/HEAVEN? Religious leaders/priests are God’s Politicians (party). They campaign to convert rescue people from having been hoodwink and/or abducted by Satan (EVIL) to God’s side (GOODNESS).
That is the meaning of religion: To restore/save into loving relationship concern for others and/or preventing harm. NOT the opposite what politicians do to fellow human being/countrymen women and children (divide and rule-harm).
It’s very unfortunate for such a thing to happen to the man of God and I don’t think a Priest can get himself in over throwing a Government because that’s not the Policy of the Church as their main duty is spiritual but not Political.
Let us hope that they bring him to Court and people know the truth about his arrest, because at the moment, it’s only lamentation going on.