The Catholic Church in Uganda is reeling from shock and deep concern following the reported abduction of Rev. Fr. Deusdedit Ssekabira, a priest of Masaka Diocese, by armed men allegedly dressed in Uganda Army uniform. The incident has sparked widespread anxiety among clergy and faithful, reigniting debate about the safety of religious leaders and the state of security in the country.
According to an official communication issued on December 13, 2025, by the Bishop of Masaka Diocese, Rt. Rev. Serverus Jjumba, Fr. Ssekabira was kidnapped on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at around 1:00 pm. The abduction reportedly took place at his office at Uplift Primary School in Katwe, Masaka City, where he serves as Director. Fr. Ssekabira is also a curate at Bumangi Parish.
In a disturbing revelation, Bishop Jjumba disclosed that the suspected kidnappers arrived dressed in military uniform and allegedly used a drone during the operation, a detail that has raised serious concern about the sophistication and intent behind the crime. More than ten days after the incident, Fr. Ssekabira’s whereabouts remain unknown despite sustained efforts by the diocese and security agencies to trace him.
“All efforts to locate him have so far been fruitless. This is a grievous wound inflicted on Masaka Diocese, the entire Catholic Church, and Fr. Ssekabira’s family,” Bishop Jjumba said, describing the abduction as a source of deep pain and anguish for the faithful and the wider community.
The Diocese of Masaka has since engaged legal teams and continues to explore all available avenues to secure the priest’s safe and unconditional release. While refraining from speculating on the motive behind the kidnapping, the bishop emphasized the urgent need for truth, justice, and accountability in resolving the matter.
In response to the incident, Bishop Jjumba issued a pastoral directive calling the clergy and faithful to prayer. On Monday, December 8, 2025, all priests of Masaka Diocese were instructed to observe a Rosary Triduum—three consecutive days of praying the Rosary using the Sorrowful Mysteries—for the safety of Fr. Ssekabira, the Church, and the nation.
The call was later extended to all Catholics across the diocese. On Saturday, December 13, 2025, the bishop urged Christ’s faithful to pray from their homes, parishes, and communities, seeking divine intervention in what he described as a moment of national and spiritual trial.
“Today, I am calling upon all Christ’s faithful of Masaka Diocese to do a Rosary Triduum with the Sorrowful Mysteries, praying that God’s power may reign,” Bishop Jjumba said during a solemn appeal made from Our Lady of Sorrows Cathedral in Kitovu.
The location carried heavy historical significance. The bishop recalled that on July 12, 1976, Msgr. Clement Mukasa was kidnapped from the same place and was never seen again—a painful reminder of unresolved wounds in the Church’s history.
The abduction of Fr. Ssekabira has reignited public concern over the safety of religious leaders and respect for the rule of law in Uganda. Many Catholics and observers are now calling for swift, transparent, and decisive action by security agencies to ensure the priest’s safe return and to restore confidence in national security institutions.
