Parliament: Obore, seven others remanded over Shs 37bn embezzlement, money laundering

Parliament’s director of communications and public affairs, Chris Obore Ariko, has been remanded to Luzira Prison until July 7 after being charged with a string of corruption-related offences, including embezzlement, money laundering and causing financial loss involving more than Shs 37 billion.

Obore was remanded by the Anti-Corruption court alongside Daniel Adilo, director of human resource; Leonard Okema, executive secretary in the Office of the Speaker; Rajab Kaaya Ssemalulu, principal research officer; Emmanuel Emuron Okwi, principal protocol officer; Vincent Otebata, capacity development officer, all employees of Parliament of Uganda; and Methods Murebe, chief executive officer of the Uganda Parliamentary Cooperative Savings and Credit Society (Sacco).

They are jointly charged with Stella Itute, office supervisor in the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms, who was charged in absentia. The accused appeared before grade one magistrate Esther Asiimwe, who read out nine charges, including embezzlement, causing financial loss and money laundering.

However, the magistrate did not allow them to take plea, explaining that the Anti-Corruption court lacks jurisdiction to try money laundering offences, which are reserved for the High court.

The charges, sanctioned by the Inspector General of Government (IGG), justice Aisha Naluze Batiibwe, and presented by the Inspectorate of Government, allege that the offences were committed between 2023 and May 2026.

According to the charge sheet, Obore is accused of embezzling Shs 5.253 billion; Adilo Shs 14.609 billion; Okema Shs 3.489 billion; Rajab Kaaya Ssemalulu Shs 2.170 billion; Emmanuel Emuron Okwi Shs 1.105 billion; Stella Itute Shs 75 million; and Vincent Otebata Shs 5.253 billion.

The prosecution alleges that the money belonged to Parliament of Uganda and was accessed by the accused by virtue of their respective offices.

Prosecutors further allege that all the accused, except Methods Murebe, received funds earmarked for parliament’s donations and corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities but failed to implement the intended programmes, thereby causing a financial loss of Shs 27.201 billion to the Government of Uganda.

In addition, Obore, Adilo, Okema, Rajab Kaaya Ssemalulu, Otebata and Murebe face a charge of money laundering. The prosecution alleges that between January 2023 and April 2026, the six processed, approved and received Shs 10.893 billion, allegedly knowing that the funds were proceeds of crime.

State Attorney Daisy Acio, supervisor of prosecutions in the IGG’s office, asked the court to adjourn the matter to enable the state to prepare committal papers before the accused are presented before the High court to take plea on the money laundering charges.

The accused, through their lawyers, applied to be furnished with copies of the charge sheet and sought a short adjournment to enable them to prepare their defence. One of the defence lawyers, Ibrahim Kikaabe, also asked the court to fix an early return date to allow the defence to prepare and file bail applications.

Magistrate Asiimwe granted the prosecution’s request and remanded all the accused to Luzira Prison until July 7, 2026, when the matter will return to court as investigations continue.

The accused were arrested on Tuesday at the Inspectorate of Government offices after they had been summoned to record additional statements.

Our reporter has learnt that some of the accused, including Obore, left their mobile phones at Parliament, apparently expecting to return to their offices shortly after recording the statements.

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