Uganda’s political landscape has been rocked by the recent revelation that the country’s military is holding Father Deusdedit Ssekabira, a Catholic priest from Masaka Diocese who vanished on December 3, 2025. The news, confirmed by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) on December 15, has ignited a firestorm of protest from religious leaders, opposition figures, and human rights organizations, all while the nation braces for a high-stakes general election next month.
Father Ssekabira’s disappearance was first reported by the Catholic Diocese of Masaka, which claimed he had been “kidnapped by men in Uganda Army uniform” as he traveled through Masaka City. For nearly two weeks, his whereabouts remained a mystery, with mounting concern from the Church and the broader community. The diocese’s alarm was echoed in a somber statement from Bishop Serverus Jjumba, who described the abduction as “a grievous wound inflicted on Masaka Diocese, the entire Catholic Church, and Father Ssekabira’s family.” Bishop Jjumba added, “Our lawyers are still doing whatever is in our means to get back our priest unharmed.”
The military’s eventual confirmation of Ssekabira’s detention did little to quell public outrage. In a brief statement, Colonel Chris Magezi, Acting Director of Defence Public Information, acknowledged the priest’s arrest, alleging his involvement in “violent subversive activities against the State.” Magezi explained, “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.” However, the military has yet to specify the exact nature of the accusations or offer evidence to substantiate their claims.
The Uganda Police Force, for its part, announced on December 14 that it was investigating social media reports of the priest’s disappearance. “We are currently verifying these claims and will provide an update once sufficient information about the Reverend Father is obtained,” the police stated on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
The case has quickly become a flashpoint in Uganda’s increasingly tense pre-election atmosphere. President Yoweri Museveni, who has held power since 1986, is seeking yet another term in office in elections scheduled for January 15, 2026. His government has long faced criticism for its heavy-handed treatment of political opponents and civil society, and Ssekabira’s detention has only amplified those concerns.
Opposition leader Bobi Wine, a former musician whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, was quick to condemn the military’s actions. “The armed forces have no place detaining civilians,” Wine wrote on X. He further alleged that the abduction of Ssekabira was emblematic of a broader pattern under Museveni’s rule, in which opposition supporters and critics are routinely targeted by security forces. “It is what Museveni has turned Uganda into,” he remarked, highlighting the plight of his own supporters who have allegedly faced similar fates.
Such accusations are not new. Human rights organizations have repeatedly sounded the alarm over enforced disappearances and prolonged detentions without trial in Uganda, especially in the run-up to elections. According to BBC News, security agencies have long been accused of detaining opposition politicians and supporters without uniforms or due process. Some of those detained have eventually resurfaced in court, facing criminal charges that their advocates claim are politically motivated.
The pattern of disappearances extends beyond Uganda’s borders. In October 2025, two Kenyan human rights activists reportedly vanished for five weeks after attending a campaign event for Bobi Wine. They were later released, but not before President Museveni acknowledged their arrest, describing them as “experts in riots” who had been temporarily detained for questioning. The incident drew sharp rebukes from regional and international observers, who saw it as part of a troubling trend of extrajudicial actions by Ugandan security forces.
The fate of opposition politicians has been particularly fraught. Last year, Kizza Besigye, a veteran opposition leader, disappeared in Nairobi, only to reappear four days later in a Ugandan military court. He remains imprisoned on treason charges, which he vehemently denies. These cases, according to rights advocates, underscore the urgent need for legal reforms and greater accountability within Uganda’s security apparatus.
The Catholic Church, meanwhile, has maintained a cautious stance regarding the allegations against Father Ssekabira. While the Masaka Diocese has vocally protested his abduction and called for his safe return, it has not directly addressed the military’s claims of subversive activity. The silence has left many Ugandans speculating about the priest’s fate and the motivations behind his detention.
For many ordinary citizens, the episode has revived longstanding anxieties about the rule of law and the independence of Uganda’s judiciary. The practice of holding individuals for extended periods before trial, often without access to legal counsel or family, has been widely criticized as a violation of basic human rights. Critics argue that such measures are intended to silence dissent and intimidate potential challengers to the status quo.
Government officials, on the other hand, have defended their actions as necessary for maintaining national security. They insist that all detainees are afforded due process and that the courts will ultimately determine the validity of the charges. Still, the lack of transparency and the timing of the detentions—so close to a pivotal election—have fueled suspicions of political interference.
As the countdown to the January 15 vote continues, Uganda finds itself at a crossroads. The detention of Father Ssekabira has galvanized both supporters and critics of the Museveni administration, serving as a stark reminder of the challenges facing the country’s democracy. Whether the priest’s case will be resolved in accordance with the rule of law, or become yet another chapter in Uganda’s fraught political history, remains to be seen.
In the meantime, the eyes of the nation—and indeed, much of the world—are fixed on Uganda, awaiting answers and hoping for justice in a climate where both seem increasingly elusive.
