Kampala, Uganda: Parliament’s Director of Communication and Public Affairs, Chris Ariko Obore, and six other current and former Parliament officials have been remanded to Luzira Prison until July 7, 2026, after appearing before the Anti-Corruption Court on charges of embezzlement, causing financial loss and money laundering involving billions of shillings.
The seven appeared before the court on Thursday afternoon, hours after they were arrested in a coordinated operation by the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) at Parliament.
The prosecution alleges that the accused unlawfully diverted public funds allocated to Parliament between 2023 and May 2026, resulting in substantial financial loss to the government.
According to the charge sheet, Chris Ariko Obore faces the first count of embezzlement under Section 18 of the Anti-Corruption Act, with prosecutors alleging that between 2025 and May 2026, he embezzled Shs5.253 billion entrusted to him by virtue of his position as Director of Communication and Public Affairs.
The second count charges Daniel Adilo, Parliament’s Director of Human Resource, with allegedly embezzling Shs14.608 billion between 2023 and May 2026.
In the third count, Leonard Okema, Executive Secretary in the Office of the Speaker, is accused of allegedly embezzling Shs3.489 billion during the same period.
The fourth count charges Rajab Kaaya Semalulu, a Principal Research Officer at Parliament, with allegedly embezzling Shs2.171 billion between 2023 and May 2026.
In the fifth count, Okwi Emanuel Emuron, Parliament’s Principal Protocol Officer, is accused of allegedly embezzling Shs1.115 billion over the same period.
The sixth count relates to another accused person who was not present in court during Thursday’s proceedings.
The seventh count accuses Vincent Otebata, a Capacity Development Officer at Parliament, of allegedly embezzling Shs5.253 billion between 2023 and May 2026.
Beyond the individual embezzlement charges, all the accused jointly face a charge of causing financial loss to the Government of Uganda.
According to the prosecution, the officials allegedly received funds earmarked for Parliamentary donations and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities between 2023 and May 2026 but failed to implement the intended activities, allegedly causing a financial loss of approximately Shs27.2 billion to government.
The prosecution further alleges that Leonard Okema, Chris Obore, Daniel Adilo, Rajab Kaaya Semalulu and Vincent Otebata committed the offence of money laundering, contrary to Sections 3B, 3E, 119 and 139 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act.
Prosecutors contend that the accused knowingly engaged in financial transactions involving proceeds of crime in an attempt to conceal or disguise the origin of the funds.
All the accused denied the charges when they were read before the Anti-Corruption Court.
The case is among the most significant corruption prosecutions involving senior Parliament officials in recent years and comes amid an intensified anti-corruption drive that has also seen investigators search properties linked to former Speaker Anita Annet Among as part of broader investigations into the management of public resources.
The Anti-Corruption Court remanded the accused to Luzira Prison until July 7, 2026, when they are expected to return to court as investigations continue.
Under Uganda’s criminal justice system, all the accused remain presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by a competent court of law.
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