The President of the Democratic Front (DF), Mathias Mpuuga, has condemned the arrest and detention of Rev Fr Deusdedit Ssekabira of Masaka Diocese calling it, ‘unprofessional and unlawful.’

Fr Ssekabira was reportedly taken from his office in Katwe, Masaka City, on December 3rd, 2025, over alleged subversive activities against the state.

According to Mpuuga, the priest was held incommunicado for nearly two weeks without official communication from security agencies, a move he says violates basic principles of the rule of law.

Mpuuga argued that if Fr Ssekabira was suspected of any wrongdoing, security agencies should have followed established procedures by summoning him through the Bishop of Masaka Diocese rather than forcibly arresting him.

“No government worth its name should resort to kidnapping its own citizens. If Fr. Ssekabira had a case to answer, the security forces should have acted with civility and summoned him through the Bishop of Masaka Diocese, instead of abducting and keeping him incommunicado for days,” Mpuuga said.

He added that the incident revives painful memories of enforced disappearances witnessed before, during, and after the 2021 general elections, noting that the whereabouts of some of those individuals remain unknown to date.

“If a citizen as prominent as Fr. Ssekabira can be taken without official acknowledgment by security agencies, ordinary citizens have every reason to feel unsafe,” he said.

Mpuuga urged security agencies to rebuild public trust by acting professionally and respecting citizens’ rights.

“Security agencies can only earn the respect and confidence of the public through conduct that demonstrates respect for the law and the dignity of citizens. Practices that are outdated and barbaric must be rejected by all well-meaning Ugandans,” he noted.

However, in a press statement issued on the same day, on Sunday, December 14th, 2025, the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) confirmed the arrest of Rev Fr Ssekabira, stating that he is in lawful custody and is assisting with investigations into alleged subversive activities against the state.

The UPDF did not provide further details on the nature of the investigations or when the priest is expected to be arraigned in court.