The High Court has granted Parliament Communications Director Chris Obore Shs30 million cash bail after he and six other senior parliamentary officials were committed to face trial over alleged corruption and embezzlement involving about Shs31.95 billion in public funds.
Obore was ordered to deposit his passport and a land title with court as security. His sureties were each bonded at Shs300 million, not in cash.
The seven officials were committed to the High Court by the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala after prosecutors presented evidence they say links them to the alleged loss of billions of shillings at Parliament.
The other accused are Daniel Adilo, director of human resource; Leonard Okema, executive secretary in the Office of the Speaker; Rajab Kaaya Ssemalulu, principal research officer; Emmanuel Okwi Emuron, principal protocol officer; Vincent Otebata, capacity development officer; and Murebe Methods, chief executive officer of the Parliamentary SACCO.
At the bail hearing, Murebe, Kaaya Ssemalulu and Okwi Emuron were each granted Shs20 million cash bail, while Adilo and Okema were granted Shs35 million each. Otebata was granted Shs30 million cash bail.
All seven accused were required to provide sureties bonded at Shs300 million each and report to the court registrar on the first Monday of every month.
Billions at the centre of the case
Court documents accuse the officials of diverting or embezzling large sums of parliamentary funds during their respective tenures.
Obore is accused of embezzling Shs5.253 billion, while prosecutors allege that Adilo diverted Shs14.609 billion, the largest amount attributed to any of the accused.
Okema is charged with alleged embezzlement of Shs3.489 billion, while Kaaya Ssemalulu is accused of diverting Shs2.170 billion.
Okwi Emuron allegedly embezzled Shs1.1 billion, while Otebata faces an allegation involving Shs5.253 billion.
Prosecutors say the alleged transactions resulted in a total financial loss of approximately Shs31.95 billion.
“The investigations established sufficient evidence to support charges of embezzlement, causing financial loss and money laundering against the accused persons,” prosecutors said in court documents.
The accused have denied the allegations and are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Money-laundering allegations
The seven officials also face a joint money-laundering charge.
Prosecutors allege that between January 2023 and April 2026, Okema, Obore, Adilo, Kaaya Ssemalulu, Otebata and Murebe Methods processed, approved and received Shs10.893 billion, knowing that the money represented proceeds of crime.
“The accused persons knowingly processed, approved and received Shs10,893,071,150, being proceeds of crime, contrary to the Anti Money Laundering Act,” the indictment states.
The case is among the most significant corruption investigations involving senior parliamentary officials in recent years, placing scrutiny on the management and oversight of public funds within Parliament.
Arrest warrant issued for another Parliament official
The investigation has also widened beyond the seven officials already committed for trial.
Last month, the court issued a warrant of arrest for Stella Itute, an office supervisor in the Sergeant at Arms Department at Parliament, to answer charges linked to the alleged embezzlement of parliamentary funds.
The warrant was issued by Grade One Magistrate Esther Asiimwe as investigators continued probing the alleged multi-billion-shilling fraud.
Court records indicate that Itute is among Parliament staff accused of diverting public funds for personal use between 2023 and May 2026, allegedly causing financial loss to the institution.
The prosecution’s case will now proceed before the High Court, where the evidence against the accused will be tested at trial.
