In Uganda when you break the law, you face the law, as you read this Rev. Fr. Deusdedit Ssekabira, a Catholic priest who had been detained for weeks following his arrest by Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers in Masaka District earlier this month, has appeared before the Masaka Magistrate’s Court for the first time.
However, the presiding magistrate, Abdallah Kayiza, remanded Fr. Ssekabira until January 21, 2026, after ruling that the court lacks jurisdiction to hear the money laundering case.
Fr. Ssekabira is accused of money laundering, with prosecutors alleging that he concealed Shs500 million, which the state claims he knew or suspected to be proceeds of crime. The charge is brought under provisions of the Anti-Money Laundering Act.
Court documents indicate that the alleged offence relates to financial transactions carried out over a period spanning several years, though details of the prosecution’s evidence were not presented during the brief appearance, as the court did not take plea.
