The Parliament of Uganda’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Chris Ariko Obore, and six other senior parliamentary officials have been remanded to Luzira Prison until July 7, 2026, after appearing in before Grade One Magistrate Esther Asiimwe of the Anti-Corruption Court on multiple charges stemming from an alleged multi-billion-shilling corruption scheme.
The officials face charges including embezzlement, causing financial loss to government, and money laundering in a case that prosecutors say involves more than Shs27.2 billion in public funds allegedly misappropriated over a period of several years.
According to the charge sheet, Obore is accused under Count One of embezzling Shs5.25 billion between 2025 and May 2026 while serving as Director of Communications and Public Affairs. Prosecutors allege the offence was committed contrary to Section 80 of the Anti-Corruption Act.
Under Count Two, Parliament’s Director of Human Resources, Daniel Adilo, is accused of embezzling Shs14.6 billion between 2023 and May 2026.
Count Three charges Leonard Okema, the Executive Secretary in the Office of the Speaker, with embezzling Shs3.49 billion during the same period.
Former Principal Research Officer Rajab Kaya Semalulu is charged under Count Four with allegedly embezzling Shs2.17 billion, while Count Five accuses Principal Protocol Officer Emanuel Emron Oqui of embezzling Shs1.11 billion.
Count Seven charges Vicent Otebata, a Capacity Development Officer, with allegedly embezzling Shs5.25 billion between 2023 and May 2026.
In Count Eight, prosecutors jointly charge all the accused with causing financial loss of Shs27.2 billion to the Government of Uganda.
The prosecution alleges that the officials received money intended for Parliament donations and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities between 2023 and May 2026 but failed to implement the activities for which the funds had been allocated, despite knowing their actions would result in financial loss to government.
The charge sheet further accuses several of the officials of laundering proceeds of crime. Count Nine charges Leonard Okema, Chris Obore, Daniel Adilo, Rajab Kaya Semalulu, and Vicent Otebata with money laundering contrary to Sections 3B, 3E, 119 and 139 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act.
Following their appearance in court, the accused were remanded until July 7, 2026, when they are expected to return for further proceedings.
The case is one of the most significant corruption prosecutions involving Parliament officials in recent years and follows investigations by the Inspectorate of Government into the alleged diversion and misuse of billions of shillings intended for official parliamentary programmes.
It should be remembered that Obore was a close ally of former speaker Anita Among, who brought him back to his job after Rebecca Kadaga had thrown him out. (See Details Here).
A new administration has since taken over at parliament. Incumbent speaker Jacob Oboth Oboth has complained about people trying to bewitch him, even as he promises to rid parliament of corruption. (See Details Here, There and Over There).
