Former Parliament Director of Communications Chris Obore and six other senior parliamentary officials have been committed to the High Court to stand trial over allegations involving the embezzlement and laundering of Shs31.9 billion in public funds.
Obore is accused of unlawfully obtaining Shs5.253 billion during his time at Parliament, according to an indictment presented before the Anti-Corruption Court on Monday.
Grade One Magistrate Esther Asiimwe committed the seven officials to the High Court after the prosecution told court that investigations into the alleged financial scandal had been completed and sufficient evidence had been gathered to support the charges.
Prosecution alleges that the accused abused their positions and access to parliamentary resources to divert public funds for personal benefit.
Obore faces charges of embezzlement, causing financial loss and money laundering.
He is jointly accused of money laundering with the Director of Human Resource, Daniel Adilo; Principal Research Officer Rajab Kaaya Ssemalulu; Parliamentary SACCO Chief Executive Officer Murebe Methods; Principal Protocol Officer Emmanuel Emuron Okwi; Capacity Development Officer Vincent Otebata; and Executive Secretary in the Office of the Speaker Leonard Okema.
Prosecutors allege that between January 2023 and April 2026, the seven officials processed, approved and received Shs10.893 billion, knowing that the money was proceeds of crime.
The indictment identifies the amount as approximately Shs10.9 billion and alleges that the transactions were carried out in contravention of the Anti-Money Laundering Act.
Adilo, the former Director of Human Resource, is accused of diverting Shs14.6 billion, the largest amount attributed to any of the officials.
Okema, the Executive Secretary in the Office of the Speaker, is accused of embezzling Shs3.5 billion, while Ssemalulu, a Principal Research Officer, allegedly diverted Shs2.2 billion.
Emuron, a Principal Protocol Officer, faces allegations involving Shs1.1 billion, while Otebata, a Capacity Development Officer, is accused of embezzling Shs5.3 billion.
Murebe Methods, the Chief Executive Officer of the Parliamentary SACCO, is also among the officials committed to the High Court.
According to the prosecution, the alleged transactions resulted in a financial loss of approximately Shs31.9 billion.
“The investigations established sufficient evidence to support charges of embezzlement, causing financial loss and money laundering against the accused persons,” prosecution states in the court documents.
The case is part of a broader investigation into alleged financial irregularities at Parliament, which has seen several senior officials suspended or interdicted.
The Anti-Corruption Court has also issued a warrant of arrest against Stella Itute, an office supervisor in the Sergeant-at-Arms Department, over separate allegations connected to the alleged diversion of parliamentary funds.
Itute is accused of being involved in the alleged misuse of public funds between 2023 and May 2026, as investigations into the parliamentary financial scandal continue.
