Masaka High Court Judge Lady Justice Victoria Nakintu Katamba has granted bail to Rev. Fr. Deusdedit Ssekabira, who is facing charges of money laundering.
The prosecution alleges that between 2023 and 2025, at Centenary Bank Masaka Branch in Masaka District, Fr. Ssekabira and others still at large intentionally concealed or disguised the true ownership of Shs 500 million, knowing or suspecting the funds to be proceeds of crime.
During the hearing, Masaka Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Brian Kalinaki argued that the case had not followed the proper procedure to reach the High Court.
He also told the court that investigations were still ongoing due to the complexity of the matter, including the need to obtain evidence from abroad.
However, defence lawyers Sam Ssekyewa and Alexander Lule maintained that the High Court has jurisdiction to handle the bail application, insisting the case was properly before the court.
Ssekyewa urged the judge to uphold constitutional human rights protections, including provisions under the Human Rights Enforcement Act, by granting temporary release as the case proceeds.
The court heard that the matter had previously been adjourned with a directive that if the prosecution failed to proceed without a valid reason, the court would revisit the bail application, which had been denied in January.
In her ruling, Justice Nakintu overruled the state’s objections regarding jurisdiction and the adequacy of sureties. She found the three sureties presented to be substantial and granted Fr. Ssekabira bail.
The sureties include Masaka Diocese Chancellor Rev. Fr. Jude Juuko Charles, the priest’s brother Andrew Matovu, and Kalungu West MP Joseph Ssewungu.
The court ordered Fr. Ssekabira to pay a cash bail of Shs 15 million and a non-cash bond of Shs 50 million. Each surety was bonded at Shs 50 million non-cash.
He is required to report to the High Court registrar on the 28th day of every month and deposit his passport, which defence lawyers told the court had been taken by security operatives at the time of his arrest.
Speaking to the press after the ruling, Ssekyewa welcomed the decision, emphasizing that his client remains innocent until proven guilty.
“We are happy that the court granted Fr. Ssekabira bail as the case progresses. The state was not ready to proceed with the trial despite earlier directions and had failed to produce evidence it claimed to have. It would have been unfair to continue holding him in prison,” Ssekyewa said.
MP Joseph Ssewungu, one of the sureties, also thanked the court, saying the ruling allowed justice to prevail while the case continues.
“The prosecution’s objections were baseless. He remains innocent until proven otherwise. We appreciate the court for addressing the defence concerns and clarifying jurisdiction,” Ssewungu added.
Background
Rev. Fr. Ssekabira was reportedly abducted on December 3 by armed men from one of his offices in Katwe, a suburb of Masaka City. He is the director of Universal Chastity Education Organisation, which provides counselling and charity support to HIV-affected children, and also heads Uplift Primary School, both based in Masaka.
On December 14, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) confirmed that he was in military custody after initially withholding details of his arrest. In a statement, the UPDF said Fr. Ssekabira was being held as investigations continue into alleged subversive activities against the state and that he would be produced before a court of law.
