The Catholic community and the wider public are amplifying calls for the immediate release of Fr. Ssekabira Deus Dadit, a priest of the Diocese of Masaka who was forcibly taken by armed men earlier this month.
In a late-night statement issued from Our Lady of Sorrows Cathedral in Kitovu, the Bishop of Masaka, Rt. Rev. Severus Jumba, expressed profound distress over the kidnapping, which has left the diocese “in deep pain and shock.” Bishop Jumba confirmed that all efforts to locate Fr. Ssekabira or ascertain the motives behind his abduction have so far been unsuccessful.
“I have asked all priests of the Masaka Diocese to pray the Rosary for our brother,” Bishop Jumba stated, underscoring the spiritual response to this crisis. He also evoked painful historical parallels, recalling the abduction of Msgr. Clement Mukasa from the same cathedral grounds in July 1976—a case that remains unresolved to this day.
The Bishop’s message has resonated deeply across the diocese, stirring anguish and outcry among parishioners. Roger Mukasa, a local Catholic, voiced the community’s disbelief: “Why kidnap a priest? A servant of God who carries no weapon, engages in no politics, and threatens no one? This is an attack on our entire community and on the values of peace and human dignity.”
Fr. Ssekabira, who previously served as Diocesan Youth Chaplain and was most recently Deputy Parish Priest at Bumanji Parish in the Ssese Islands, is widely respected as a dedicated pastor. His family and the faithful describe him as a humble servant devoted to prayer, pastoral care, and community guidance.
“Fr. Ssekabira belongs to everyone—the poor, the suffering, the young, and the elderly,” Mukasa added. “Taking him is an assault on the whole Church.”
Despite the traditional offering of a priest’s life to his bishop and diocese, Fr. Ssekabira’s relatives are pleading passionately for his freedom. A group of family members recently appealed publicly, chanting, “Free Fr. Ssekabira—he is innocent! Release him now!”
As anxiety grows, the Diocese continues to observe days of prayer for the safe return of Fr. Ssekabira, while urging anyone with information to come forward. The Catholic community remains united in hope, faith, and urgent demand for his unconditional release.
