“It is a grievous wound inflicted on Masaka Diocese, the entire Catholic Church, and Fr. Ssekabira’s family. Masaka Diocese together with our lawyers are still doing whatever is in our means to get back our priest unharmed,” the prelate communicated.
The authorities in Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) have confirmed that the missing Masaka Diocesan Priest, Rev. Fr. Deusdedit Ssekabira is in their custody.
Col. Chris Magezi, the UPDF Acting Director Defence Public Information have today confirmed that Fr. Ssekabira was recently arrested by the security forces for involvement in violent subversive activities against the state.
“Rev. Fr. Ssekabira is currently in lawful custody to assist with further investigations into the matter. He will be produced in the courts of law and charged accordingly,” Magezi said in a statement without giving details,” Magezi said.
Bp. Serverus Jjumba of Masaka diocese on Saturday communicated about Fr. Ssekabira’s alleged abduction by men in Uganda Army uniform, with a drone, on Wednesday 3rd December 2025 at 1:00pm, at Katwe in Masaka City, at his office as Director of Uplift Primary School.
Bp. Jjumba said that from Wednesday to Saturday, all the efforts to locate the missing priest had so far been fruitless.
“It is a grievous wound inflicted on Masaka Diocese, the entire Catholic Church, and Fr. Ssekabira’s family. Masaka Diocese together with our lawyers are still doing whatever is in our means to get back our priest unharmed,” the prelate communicated.
Bp. Jjumba also said that he had made this communication from Our Lady of Sorrows, Kitovu Cathedral, where on 12th July 1976, Msgr. Clement Mukasa was kidnapped and he had never been seen again.
