The Ugandan Ministry of Defence & Veteran Affairs has officially confirmed the arrest of a Catholic priest, stating he is under investigation for actions against the state.
In a press statement dated 14 December 2025, the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) Department of Defence Public Information announced that Rev. Fr. Deusdedit Ssekabira of the Masaka Diocese is in lawful custody.
The statement alleges that Fr. Ssekabira was arrested by security forces for “involvement in violent subversive activities against the state.” It confirms that he was recently taken into custody and is being held to assist with ongoing investigations.
The military authorities stated that the priest “will be produced in the courts of law and charged accordingly,” indicating that formal legal proceedings are pending.
The statement was signed by Colonel Chris Magezi, the Acting Director of Defence Public Information for the UPDF and MODVA. The release provides official contact details for the Defence Public Information Office but offers no further specifics regarding the nature of the alleged activities, the location of the arrest, or the priest’s current condition.
This announcement brings an official military confirmation to what may have been previously reported or rumored. The case is likely to draw significant attention, given the involvement of a religious figure in allegations of state subversion. Observers will be watching for the specific charges to be filed and the subsequent legal process.
