Rev. Fr. Deusdedit Ssekabira, a Catholic priest who has been detained for weeks following his arrest by security forces, is set to appear in court on money laundering charges, according to police charge documents seen by UG Diplomat.
Fr. Ssekabira, 47, a priest of Masaka Diocese and resident of Bumangi Catholic Parish in Kalangala District, is accused of concealing or disguising the true ownership of Shs500 million in alleged proceeds of crime, contrary to provisions of Uganda’s Anti-Money Laundering Act.
According to the charge sheet dated December 22, 2025, police allege that between 2023 and 2025, Fr. Ssekabira and others still at large intentionally concealed the ownership of the funds while operating through Centenary Bank, Masaka Branch, knowing or suspecting the money to be proceeds of criminal activity.
The case is registered under Uganda v. Deusdedit Ssekabira at the Masaka Chief Magistrate’s Court, where he is expected to be formally produced and charged.
The latest development follows weeks of uncertainty surrounding the priest’s whereabouts. Early this month, social media reports claimed Fr. Ssekabira had been abducted by armed men believed to be soldiers, prompting public concern and calls for accountability.
The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) issued a statement confirming that Fr. Ssekabira was in lawful custody, but said he had been arrested over alleged involvement in what it described as “violent subversive activities against the state.”
The military, however, did not at the time disclose the specific criminal charges he would face in court.
The emergence of police charge documents linking the priest to alleged money laundering now adds a new dimension to the case.
There has been no immediate public comment from the Catholic Church or Masaka Diocese regarding the charges. Legal observers note that the case is likely to attract close scrutiny, given the priest’s prolonged incommunicado detention and the apparent shift from national security-related allegations to financial crimes.
Authorities say Fr. Ssekabira will be produced in court in accordance with the law as investigations continue.
