Uganda: Rev Father Ssekabira denied bail, weeps in court

Masaka High Court has dismissed the bail application of jailed Rev Fr. Deusdedit Ssekabira, who has been on remand since December 23.

The curate attached to Bumangi Catholic Parish in Masaka Diocese is charged with money laundering contrary to section 3 (b) 119 and 139 and 139 (1) (a) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, Cap 118.

On Tuesday, he appeared before Masaka resident judge, Victoria Nakintu Katamba, for a bail hearing.

Prosecution alleges that between 2023 and 2025, at Centenary Bank Masaka Branch, in Masaka City, Fr Ssekabira, 47 and others still at large, internationally concealed or disguised the true ownership of Shs500 million, knowing or suspecting such property to be the proceeds of crime.

The defence lawyers led by Sam Ssekyewa presented several grounds for the bail application before the court, which included the violation of the applicant's human rights at the time of arrest and being held in an illegal detention facility since he was arrested on December 3, 2025, from his office in Katwe, Masaka City by armed military personnel.

Mr Ssekyewa also told the court that in circumstances where the applicant's human rights were violated, the court was free to stay the proceedings and grant the applicant bail as the main suit is being handled.

Alexander Lule, another defence lawyer, presented to the court three people to stand a surety for Fr Ssekabira.

These included Masaka Diocesan chancellor Rev Fr Charles Jude Juuko, Ssekabira's brother, Andrew Matovu and Kawungu West constituency legislator Joseph Gonzanga Ssewungu.

The court heard that since the charges being faced by the priest are financially related, two of the sureties had shown financial capacity to bail him out, just in case the bail was to be a cash bail by putting up their car log books, land titles and bank statements.

However, prosecution led by Masaka Chief Resident State Attorney, Deborah Itwau, objected to the bail application, saying that if Fr Ssekabira is granted bail, he may interfere with the ongoing investigations into the case, which she claims to be of public interest.

She also said that, given the nature and the gravity of the offence the priest is facing, the sureties presented have to be with the required financial muscle, but one of the sureties presented(Fr Jjuuko], who is a servant of God, did not prove to the court his financial abilities, which may make him unfit to be a substantive surety.

"The sureties presented by the applicant, Fr. Juuko, being an employee of the dioceses is subject to transfers which affect his fixed place of aboard and Ssewungu, being a member of Parliament spend most of his time in Kampala and may not fulfil his duties as surety if the court grants the priest bail," she said.

However, Lule told the court that the territorial boundary of the Masaka Diocese is almost the same as the jurisdiction of the trial court, adding that transferring Fr Juuko from one catholic parish to another may not in any way affect his duties as surety if Fr Ssekabira is granted bail.

Justice Nakintu said since the case is said to be of public interest, it should be given priority, fixing it for a hearing instead of granting bail.

"Prepare for the hearing of the case, and the parties should follow the set timelines or else the court will be compelled to hear the bail application," she said.

The judge adjourned the matter to February 10. When Fr Ssekabira realised that he was not regaining his freedom as anticipated, he broke down in tears.

Armed men on December 3 kidnapped Rev Fr Ssekabira at one of his offices in Katwe, Masaka City suburb.

He is also the director of Universal Chastity Education Organisation, which provides counselling services and charitable support to HIV-affected needy children, and the director of Uplift Primary School, both in Masaka.

Although the Army, on December 14, came out and confirmed that he was in their custoc -10 days after concealing details about the arrest, his fate remains unknown.

In a statement, the UPDF said Fr Ssekabira is being held as investigations continue into alleged involvement in "subversive activities" against the state. The military added that the priest will be produced before a court of law and charged accordingly.