The Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala has committed Parliament Director of Communications and Public Affairs Chris Obore and six other senior officials to face trial in the High Court over alleged embezzlement, causing financial loss and money laundering involving billions of shillings.
The seven officials are Obore, Director of Human Resource Daniel Adilo, Executive Secretary in the Office of the Speaker Leonard Okema, Principal Research Officer Rajab Kaaya Ssemalulu, Principal Protocol Officer Emmanuel Emuron Okwi, Capacity Development Officer Vincent Otebata and Uganda Parliamentary Cooperative Savings and Credit Society (SACCO) Chief Executive Officer Methods Murebe.
They were charged before Grade One Magistrate Esther Asiimwe following investigations by the Inspectorate of Government into the alleged misuse of parliamentary funds.
The prosecution alleges that the officials used their respective positions to access and divert funds belonging to Parliament, including money intended for donations and corporate social responsibility programmes.
According to the charge sheet, the alleged offences were committed between 2023 and May 2026 and resulted in an alleged financial loss of Shs27.201 billion to government.
Obore is accused of embezzling Shs5.253 billion, while Adilo, the Director of Human Resource, is alleged to have diverted the largest amount in the case, Shs14.609 billion.
Okema is accused of embezzling Shs3.489 billion, while Kaaya Ssemalulu is alleged to have diverted Shs2.170 billion.
Emmanuel Emuron Okwi is accused of embezzling Shs1.105 billion, while Otebata is alleged to have misappropriated Shs5.253 billion.
A separate charge sheet also lists Parliament office supervisor Stella Itute as having allegedly embezzled Shs75 million. She was charged in absentia and was later the subject of an arrest warrant after failing to appear before the Anti Corruption Court.
Prosecutors allege that the officials, with the exception of Murebe, received money earmarked for parliamentary donations and corporate social responsibility activities but failed to implement the intended programmes.
“The accused persons abused positions of trust within Parliament of Uganda by allegedly processing, approving, receiving and diverting public funds,” the prosecution states in the charge sheet.
The accused also face a joint money laundering charge involving Shs10.893 billion.
According to the indictment, Obore, Adilo, Okema, Kaaya Ssemalulu, Otebata and Murebe allegedly processed, approved and received Shs10.893 billion between January 2023 and April 2026, knowing or having reason to believe that the money constituted proceeds of crime.
“The accused persons knowingly processed, approved and received Shs10,893,071,150, being proceeds of crime, contrary to the Anti-Money Laundering Act,” reads part of the indictment.
Because money laundering offences fall within the jurisdiction of the High Court, Magistrate Asiimwe did not take pleas from the accused when they first appeared before the Anti Corruption Court.
The prosecution instead sought time to complete investigations and prepare committal papers for the case to proceed to the High Court. The seven officials were subsequently remanded to Luzira Prison as the Inspectorate of Government prepared the case for the next stage.
Obore separately petitioned the High Court seeking bail pending trial. Through his lawyers, he argued that he had a fixed place of residence and would comply with any conditions imposed by court.
The High Court bail process was triggered after Magistrate Asiimwe indicated that the High Court could handle bail applications in view of the money laundering charges.
The Inspectorate of Government has said the investigations concern the management of public resources at Parliament, with the charges against the officials sanctioned by the Inspector General of Government.
On July 27, when the matter returned to the Anti Corruption Court, the court issued a warrant for Itute’s arrest after prosecutors told court that efforts to trace her had been unsuccessful. Her co accused remained part of the proceedings over the alleged Shs27.2 billion loss.
The accused persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court.
