Ugandan military detain priest amid election tensions

The Ugandan military has confirmed it detained Father Deusdedit Ssekabira, a Catholic priest who has been missing for almost two weeks, as reported by Africa News and agencies on December 15th.

According to the military, Ssekabira was detained over his alleged involvement in “violent subversive activities” and will face charges in court.

The Catholic Diocese of Masaka had earlier reported that Ssekabira was “kidnapped by men in Uganda Army uniform.” Although the church has not commented on the military’s allegations, it did express concern over Ssekabira’s disappearance on December 13th.

Ugandan authorities have faced condemnation over the apparent crackdown on opposition voices ahead of the January 15th, 2026, elections, in which President Yoweri Museveni is running for re-election.

According to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), at least 550 people have been arrested and detained in Uganda since early 2025, including members of the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP).

Museveni, 81, has held office since 1986, but was not officially elected until 1996. He announced his re-election campaign on September 23rd.

In 2017, lawmakers removed the constitutional age limit on the presidency, thereby allowing the 81-year-old to run for office as many times as he likes.

Since 2001, elections in Uganda have been marred by allegations of rigging and military interference.

Museveni’s opposition candidate is Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, a former pop star better known as Bobi Wine, who leads the NUP and has received widespread support from Uganda’s working-class youth.

It was reported on December 8th that Wine was allegedly beaten by security forces while campaigning in the northern city of Gulu. In a series of posts on X, Wine claimed that security forces attacked him and vandalised a sound system used by his campaign team.

In November, police allegedly blocked NUP staff from accessing a planned campaign venue in the northern city of Arua, which is reportedly a key city in Wine’s political campaign.

Furthermore, another opposition leader, Kizza Besigye, was reported as being on trial for treason at a military court on January 14th. If convicted, the former military officer could face a possible death sentence.

Besigye was arrested in November 2024, with his wife claiming he was abducted in Nairobi, Kenya. He was charged with illegal possession of a firearm and solicitation of military support overseas to destabilise national security.

Africa News and agencies, Maghrebi.org