UPDF arrests and detains Catholic priest Fr. Deusdedit Ssekabira without court appearance

Civic Space & Media Freedom Single source Uganda (national) Dec 2025 (day not reported) Severity: 3/5

According to Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi, the UPDF arrested Rev. Fr. Deusdedit Ssekabira, a Catholic priest from Masaka District, and held him in an ungazetted place for nearly two weeks without producing him in court or allowing access to lawyers, doctors or family. The Attorney General told Parliament he did not dispute a document in which the UPDF stated it was holding the priest.

A national event, not tied to one district.

Single source: Reported by one outlet; not yet independently confirmed.

Numbers

1 arrested or detained

Sources

The Independent 17 Dec 2025

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