A Catholic Priest, critical of the Yoweri Museveni regime, has finally been released from Police Custody after 69 days of detention.
According to local sources, his bail after the priest was allegedly kidnapped on 3 December 2025 by men in Ugandan army uniform has finally brought relief to his family and the presbytery.
Fr. Deusdedit Ssekabira in at the Masaka High Court. Credit: Kabale Diocese
Fr. Deusdedit Ssekabira, a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Masaka, was arrested over what the government alleged constituted a security threat.
Quo Vadis Youth Hub indicated that after his disappearance, which raised widespread concern, Uganda’s defence authorities announced that the priest was held over his “involvement in violent subversive activities against the state.”
Letter of the prosecution counsel
On 27 January, a Masaka High Court dismissed the bail application of the Priest, who is the Associate Pastor of Bumangi Parish and Director of Uplift Primary School, adjourning the case to Tuesday, 10 February.
On 10 February, the court granted a 15-million Ugandan shillings (US$ 4,250) cash bail to Fr. Ssekabira, 47, on grounds of delay in the prosecution in addition.
Some female religious who accompanied the accused priest to the court. Credit: Kabale Diocese
Judge Victoria Nakintu determined that the priest be freed on bail because the state did not express readiness to begin the prosecution.
While the prosecution pleaded with the court to give the state more time to gather evidence from abroad during the 10 February hearing, the priest’s Lawyer, Sam Ssekyewa, told the press that he doubts if the government has any substantial evidence to prosecute his client, who is standing trial for money laundering charges.
The court ruled that the cleric should report to the Masaka High Court Registrar monthly and also deposit his international passport with the court.
A cross-section of priests during the trial. Credit: Kabale Diocese
He expressed happiness “that the court granted Fr. Ssekabira bail, as the case progresses,” stressing that the authorities did not appear ready for the trial.
He noted that the state had not produced evidence despite having been told by the court to do so during the January 27 hearing. “It was not right to continue holding him in prison,” Mr. Ssekyewa said.
Yoweri Museveni, 81, is alleged to have fraudulently won the recently concluded Ugandan general elections for the seventh time in office with more than 70% of the votes cast.
Critics think that, like the 1980s after Idi Amin’s overthrow, the elections were marred by intimidation and arrest of political opponents, internet shutdown, and widespread protests, taking the country back to the East African leader’s days of self-styled guerrilla war codenamed (The Ugandan Bush War).
