Fear and anxiety have gripped residents of Masaka City, particularly the Catholic faithful in Masaka Diocese, following the disappearance of Rev Fr Deus Ssekabira, the deputy parish priest of Bumanji Parish in Kalangala District.
Rev Fr Ssekabira reportedly went missing about two weeks ago after he was allegedly arrested by unknown people at Katwe Trading Centre in Kimaanya Kabonera Division, Masaka City, along Alex Ssebbowa Road.
Residents in the area say the manner in which the priest was taken has left the community shaken.
Several tenants at the premises where the arrest allegedly took place were reportedly found with their doors still locked, suggesting a sudden and forceful operation.
Alex Ssenyondo, a brother to Fr Ssekabira, said those who took him appeared highly organised and deliberately concealed their identities.
“Those who arrested him arrived in about four vehicles, all with their number plates covered. They were dressed in black, with their faces covered. The only thing that identified them as operatives were the guns they were carrying,” Ssenyondo said.
Another brother, Andrew Kabulassoke, said the priest had been running an organisation that received funding from abroad to support community-based projects, including schools, dismissing claims that the money was being used for illegal activities.
“It is true that our brother has been receiving money from outside the country to support projects such as running schools. However, he has never used that money to fund any illegal or harmful activities, as some people are now claiming,” Kabulassoke said.
The family has appealed to the government and relevant authorities to intervene and help secure Fr. Ssekabira’s release, insisting that he is innocent.
“We appeal to everyone responsible to ensure the release of Fr Ssekabira because he is not a criminal,” the relatives said.
Masaka Regional Police Spokesperson Twaha Kasirye said police were not involved in the alleged arrest and had not officially received any complaint regarding the priest’s disappearance.
“We have only heard about this issue through social media. It has not yet been formally reported at any police station,” Kasirye said.
He advised the family and relatives of Fr. Ssekabira to report the matter to the nearest police station and formally register a missing person’s case to allow investigations to commence.