Faithful in the Diocese of Masaka are living in fear after renowned Diocesan Youth Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Deusdedit Ssekabira and also the assistant Bumangi Catholic Parish priest in Kalangala district going missing for two weeks without trace.
According to a video circulating online by one of the yet to be identified faithful’s, Fr Ssekabira was abducted by armed men in a drone recently.
“I call upon all catholic priests in Masaka, you all know Fr Sekabira come out and save my Father he is being killed , its night time am moving looking for my father , he is being killed, men abducted him and took him away” the yet to be identified youth calls out for help in the video.
Fr Ssekabira’s disappearance has now turned both political and humanitarian with National Unity Platform (NUP) members and human rights defenders calling for his immediate release from alleged holding by the government which has in the recent years been the centre of attention for arresting suspects using drones and armed gunmen.
NUP’s Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu aka Bobi Wine in a post on his X noted that Fr Ssekabira was abducted a few days back by armed men moving in a drone Reg. No. UBE 199F in Masaka.
“Today (Friday), one Sarah Nambogo was abducted from her workplace at Kampala Club by armed operatives travelling in a Toyota Noah vehicle, Reg. No. UBP 791G. Her whereabouts remain unknown” he said.
He added, “Every Ugandan is duty bound to fight against this growing lawlessness. As we have repeatedly said, there can be no heroes in a sinking boat. First, they came for muslim clerics, then opposition leaders and members, then some within the academia and civil society, then some foreign nationals. Now, they’re coming for Catholic Priests and professionals. Who is next? Every one of us must act fast in trying to restore the rule of law. Our thoughts are with all victims of the brutal regime”.
Godwin Toko, a human rights activist noted that Uganda has become scary if the state is now abducting religious leaders.
“We’ve been here before as a country; it’s a slippery slope. Hopefully, it isn’t the state this time, and the state gets to the top of this situation by finding priest & holding the perpetrators to account…” posted on his X handle.
Mityana District legislator, Francis Zaake called on the public to raise their voices and demand for release of Fr Ssekabira.
Family Twist !
However a source with knowledge of Fr Ssekabira’s family background says the disappearance could be a result of a long standing property feud between the Priest and his family members.
According to the source, the feud got so heated that the family members allegedly plotted for Fr Ssekabira’s transfer from the main Masaka Diocese church to Bumangi Catholic Parish in the island district of Kalangala as assistant parish priest.
“That family has spent a long time fighting over property, they at one time had a gathering that required them to perform cultural rights or ceremonies at a shrine and the priest had to also attend as a family member” the source said.
The source added, “However after the ceremony, the same family members reported him to the Bishop leading to his transfer to Bumangi, actually, it’s more like the family wanted him chased out of priesthood”.
However 360 News Ug couldn’t independently verify the allegation by the source.
By the time of this publication, the Diocese of Masaka and the Uganda Police Force hadn’t yet released a statement on the whereabouts or any action taken to search for Fr Ssekabira.
