Uganda’s Anti-Corruption Court has remanded Parliament’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Chris Obore Ariko, together with seven other current and former parliamentary officials, over alleged corruption involving more than Shs37 billion.
The group was sent to Luzira Prison until 7 July after appearing before Grade One Magistrate Esther Asiimwe.
Those remanded are Daniel Adilo, Parliament’s 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; and Methods Murebe, Chief Executive Officer of the Uganda Parliamentary Cooperative Savings and Credit Society (Sacco).
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Another accused, Stella Itute, an Office Supervisor in the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms, was charged in her absence.
The accused face nine charges, including embezzlement, causing financial loss and money laundering.
However, Magistrate Asiimwe did not allow them to enter pleas, saying the Anti-Corruption Court does not have jurisdiction to hear money laundering cases, which fall under the High Court.
The charges, approved by Inspector General of Government Justice Aisha Naluze Batiibwe, relate to offences allegedly committed between 2023 and May 2026.
According to the charge sheet, prosecutors accuse Mr Obore of embezzling Shs5.253 billion, while Mr Adilo allegedly embezzled Shs14.609 billion.
Mr Okema is accused of embezzling Shs3.489 billion, Mr Rajab Kaaya Ssemalulu Shs2.170 billion, Mr Emmanuel Emuron Okwi Shs1.105 billion, Mr Vincent Otebata Shs5.253 billion and Ms Itute Shs75 million.
The prosecution alleges that the funds belonged to Parliament of Uganda and were accessed by the accused through their respective offices.
Prosecutors further allege that, with the exception of Mr Murebe, the accused received money allocated for Parliament’s donations and corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities but failed to implement the intended programmes, resulting in a financial loss of Shs27.201 billion to the government.
In addition, Mr Obore, Mr Adilo, Mr Okema, Mr Rajab Kaaya Ssemalulu, Mr Otebata and Mr Murebe are also charged with money laundering.
The prosecution alleges that between January 2023 and April 2026, the six “processed, approved and received Shs10.893 billion, allegedly knowing that the funds were proceeds of crime.”
State Attorney Daisy Acio, Supervisor of Prosecutions at the Inspectorate of Government, asked the court to adjourn the case to allow the state to prepare committal papers before the accused are presented before the High Court to answer the money laundering charges.
Lawyers representing the accused requested copies of the charge sheet and sought a brief adjournment 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 7 July 2026, when the case will return to court as investigations continue.
The accused were arrested on Tuesday at the Inspectorate of Government offices after being summoned to record additional statements.
According to reports, some of the suspects, including Mr Obore, left their mobile phones at Parliament before reporting to the Inspectorate, apparently expecting to return to their offices after recording the statements.
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