Masaka High Court has granted bail to Rev. Fr. Deusdedit Ssekabira, who is charged with money laundering involving Shs500 million.
In her ruling, the presiding judge found that all the sureties presented by the Reverend Father were substantial and met the legal requirements. She also overruled the State prosecution’s submission that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter, affirming that the High Court was properly seized of the case.
As part of the bail conditions, court ordered Rev. Fr. Ssekabira to deposit Shs15 million in cash. Each of his sureties was directed to execute a non-cash bond of Shs50 million. The applicant was further ordered to deposit his passport with court.
The ruling was delivered in a courtroom packed with religious leaders, relatives of Rev. Fr. Ssekabira, and other members of the public.
The decision was welcomed by the defence team, which indicated that arrangements were underway to fulfill the bail conditions to secure their client’s release today.
“The presiding judge has delivered justice, and I think this decision deserves to be celebrated,” one of the defence lawyers said after the ruling.
On the issue of the passport, defence lawyer Mr. Sekyewa clarified that Rev. Fr. Ssekabira’s passport is currently in police custody.
Rev. Fr. Ssekabira, a priest attached to a Catholic parish in Masaka Diocese, is charged with money laundering contrary to sections 3(b), 119, 139, and 139(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, Cap 118.
According to the prosecution, between 2023 and 2025, at Centenary Bank Masaka Branch in Masaka City, Rev. Fr. Ssekabira, 47, and others still at large allegedly concealed or disguised the true ownership of Shs500 million, knowing or having reason to suspect that the money was proceeds of crime.
