The Masaka High Court has formally charged Rev. Fr. Deusdedat Ssekabira, a Catholic priest serving at Bumangi Catholic Parish in Sesse, Kalangala District, with money laundering. He faces charges under Sections 3(b), 119, and 3(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, Cap 118.
According to the charge sheet, Fr. Ssekabira, along with other suspects currently at large, allegedly concealed or disguised the true ownership of Shs500 million between 2023 and 2025 at Centenary Bank’s Masaka branch.
The money, prosecutors claim, was the proceeds of criminal activity, which Fr. Ssekabira is suspected of knowingly concealing.
This latest development comes just weeks after Fr. Ssekabira’s controversial arrest.
On December 3, 2025, he was reportedly abducted from his office at Universal Chastity Education in Masaka City by armed men dressed in military uniforms. Initial inquiries by local police to locate him were unsuccessful, sparking widespread concern.
It was not until December 14 that the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) confirmed the priest’s detention, alleging his involvement in violent, subversive activities against the state.
In response, the Catholic Church’s legal team in Masaka Diocese filed a habeas corpus petition, demanding that the state produce Fr. Ssekabira in court, asserting that his detention violated constitutional rights regarding the prompt appearance of suspects in court within 48 hours of arrest.
Fr. Ssekabira’s detention has ignited heated debates within Parliament, with opposition lawmakers and the Uganda Catholic Lawyers Society strongly criticizing the military’s actions in holding a civilian without trial.
Before his arrest, Fr. Ssekabira was known for his pastoral work at Bumangi Catholic Parish and served as the director of Uplift Primary School in Masaka.
The case remains under investigation, with the court proceedings continuing.
By Alex Magala
23rd Dec 2025
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