Fr. Ssekabira was on 3rd December 2025 arrested by army operatives at Katwe in Nyendo-Mukungwe Division, Masaka City while in office.
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The Assistant Parish Priest for Bumangi parish in Masaka diocese, Fr. Deusdedit Ssekabira provoked sympathy from people attending court when High Court Judge Victoria Nakintu turned down his bail application, and instead directed prosecution to fix his hearing at a close date.
Through his lawyer, Alexander Lule, Fr. Ssekabira applied for bail on the grounds that he has never been committed to court for offence, is a religious leader and has a permanent place of abode, in addition to production of impeccable sureties, but prosecution declined, saying it was through with investigations and was ready to proceed with trial.
As sureties, his lawyers had presented the Diocesan Secretary for Masaka diocese, Fr. Jude Jjuuko, Kalungu West MP, Joseph Gonzaga Ssewungu and his younger brother, Andrew Matovu.
Fr. Ssekabira was on 3rd December 2025 arrested by army operatives at Katwe in Nyendo-Mukungwe Division, Masaka City while in office.
State Attorney Deborah Itwau informed court that his case is related to money laundering of sh500m with no proper accountability, and that his sureties did not prove their financial ability to know whether it matches the value of the amount in the charge.
Passing her ruling, Judge Nakintu directed prosecution to line up its evidence so that hearing of the case kicks off as soon as possible, and sent the priest to remand till February 10 2026, adding that failure to comply will compel him to release the accused on bail.
And in the case in which Fr. Ssekabira sued security bodies for trampling on his freedom during his arrest, Betty Karungi Gafabusa from the Attorney General’s office applied for ample time enabling the IGG and Defence Ministry to file their defence statement. It was adjourned to February 24 for the ruling.