Indicted Parliament’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Chris Ariko Obore, and six other officials have been committed to the High Court to face charges over the alleged mismanagement and embezzlement of Shs26.8 billion in parliamentary funds.
Grade One Magistrate Esther Asiimwe committed the seven suspects after the Inspectorate of Government (IG) informed court that investigations into the case had been completed and the prosecution was ready to proceed.
The other accused are Parliament’s Director of Human Resource Daniel Adilo, Executive Secretary in the Office of the Speaker Leonard Okema, Principal Research Officer Rajab Kaaya Ssemalulu, Principal Protocol Officer Okwi Emmanuel Emuron, Capacity Development Officer Vincent Otebata and Methods Mureebe, Chief Executive Officer of the Uganda Parliamentary Cooperative Savings and Credit Society (Parliamentary Sacco).
State Attorney Daisy Acio told court that the investigation had been concluded and the accused were ready to face the charges before the High Court.
Acio also said Stella Itute, who had previously been listed as the sixth accused, had been removed from the charge sheet after investigators established that she was at large. She will be charged separately if arrested.
The seven officials will face nine charges linked to the alleged handling of funds allocated for parliamentary donations, corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities and stakeholder engagements between 2023 and May 2026.
The charges include causing financial loss, embezzlement and money laundering.
According to the prosecution, Obore allegedly received Shs5.2531 billion for donations and CSR activities but failed to implement the activities or return the money to Parliament.
Adilo is accused of receiving Shs14.11075 billion, while Okema allegedly received Shs3.8 billion for similar activities. The prosecution claims that neither official implemented the activities or accounted for the funds.
Ssemalulu is alleged to have received Shs1.870108 billion, while Emuron allegedly received Shs1.105 billion for donations and CSR activities that were reportedly never carried out.
Otebata faces a separate allegation involving Shs502.534 million that was meant to cover fuel, subsistence allowances and transport refunds for external participants attending a stakeholder engagement in the central region.
The prosecution alleges that the engagement never took place and that the money was not returned to Parliament.
The IG alleges that the seven officials collectively received Shs26.805892 billion for parliamentary donations, CSR programmes and stakeholder engagements but failed to carry out the activities or account for the funds.
Prosecutors further allege that the actions of the accused caused the government a financial loss equivalent to the funds in question.
Obore also faces a separate charge relating to Shs2.578 billion that he allegedly received to manage parliamentary donations and CSR activities.
According to the prosecution, Obore knowingly submitted false accountabilities for the money.
The case will now proceed to the High Court for further hearing.
