KAMPALA, Uganda – Eight current and former officials of the Parliament of Uganda, including Director of Communications and Public Affairs Chris Obore, have been arrested and charged over the alleged embezzlement of more than Shs 31 billion in public funds.
The arrests, carried out on Thursday, form part of an ongoing anti corruption investigation targeting alleged financial mismanagement within Parliament during the 11th Parliament. The suspects were detained by the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) and are expected to appear before the Anti Corruption Court to answer charges of embezzlement and, in some cases, money laundering.
According to charge sheets that surfaced on Thursday, prosecutors allege that the accused fraudulently diverted public funds entrusted to them by virtue of their offices between 2023 and May 2026.
Those charged include Chris Ariko Obore, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, who is accused of embezzling Shs 5.253 billion.
Also charged is Daniel Adilo, Director of Human Resources, who faces allegations of embezzling Shs 14.608 billion, the largest amount among the accused.
Others are Leonard Okema, Executive Secretary in the Office of the Speaker, accused of embezzling Shs 3.489 billion; Rajab Kaaya Ssemalulu, Principal Research Officer, accused of embezzling Shs 2.17 billion; Okwi Emmanuel Emuron, accused of embezzling Shs 1.1 billion; Itute Stella, accused of embezzling Shs 75 million; and Oteba Vincent, a Capacity Development Officer, who is accused of embezzling Shs 5.253 billion. An eighth suspect is also reported to have been charged as part of the same case.
In addition to the embezzlement charges, several of the accused are facing money laundering counts. Court documents allege that more than Shs 10.893 billion, believed to be proceeds of crime, was processed through accounts linked to the Parliamentary Savings and Credit Cooperative Society (SACCO).
The arrests mark the latest development in a broader investigation into Parliament’s financial operations, which has intensified over the past several months. Investigators have been examining allegations that billions of shillings meant for parliamentary activities, corporate social responsibility programs and outreach initiatives were instead funneled through personal accounts of staff members.
The case follows months of scrutiny surrounding financial transactions within Parliament. Earlier investigations and reports questioned the movement of billions of shillings through accounts belonging to parliamentary officials, while anti corruption agencies have also been probing allegations of illicit enrichment, money laundering and unexplained wealth involving senior figures connected to the institution.
The investigation comes after security agencies earlier this year conducted searches linked to former Speaker Anita Among as part of separate corruption related inquiries. Those investigations heightened public attention on Parliament’s financial management and renewed calls for greater accountability in the institution.
Parliament has faced repeated criticism in recent years over allegations of financial irregularities, including questionable recruitment practices, ghost workers, procurement concerns and the use of staff accounts to manage funds for parliamentary programs. While some previous investigations cleared certain officials of wrongdoing, others resulted in disciplinary action or criminal proceedings.
News of the arrests quickly generated widespread public reaction, with many Ugandans on social media questioning how such large sums of public money could allegedly be misappropriated at a time when key public sectors continue to face funding challenges.
By Thursday afternoon, neither Parliament nor the Inspectorate of Government had issued a detailed public statement explaining the arrests beyond the court proceedings.
Under Ugandan law, all the accused remain presumed innocent unless and until they are found guilty by a competent court. The Anti Corruption Court is expected to determine the merits of the prosecution’s evidence as the case proceeds.
The prosecution is expected to present evidence detailing how the funds were allegedly diverted, the financial transactions involved and the individual roles of each accused person as investigations continue.
