Uganda’s military has confirmed the arrest of Catholic priest Rev. Fr. Deusdedit Ssekabira, contradicting earlier social media claims that he had been abducted.

In a press statement dated December 14, through the Department of Defence Public Information under the UPDF, said Rev. Fr. Ssekabira of Masaka Diocese was recently taken into custody by security forces.

The military said the priest was arrested for alleged involvement in “violent subversive activities against the state” and is currently being held in lawful custody to assist with ongoing criminal investigations.

“He will be produced in the courts of law and charged accordingly,” the statement said, without providing details of the alleged activities or the timeline of the investigation.

The statement was issued by Col. Chris Magezi, the Acting Director of Defence Public Information.

The development follows an earlier statement by the on Sunday saying it was verifying social media reports alleging the priest’s abduction, after claims circulated online about his disappearance.

There was no immediate public comment from the Catholic Church or Masaka Diocese regarding the allegations or the priest’s arrest.

Uganda has in recent years seen heightened security scrutiny of individuals accused of links to activities deemed subversive by the state, with authorities maintaining that all suspects are handled within the confines of the law.