Former Parliament’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs Chris Obore and six other senior parliamentary officials have been committed to the High Court Anti-Corruption Division to face trial over alleged embezzlement and other corruption-related offences involving more than Ug.Shs.26 billion.
Anti-Corruption Court Grade One Magistrate Esther Asiimwe officially sent the suspects to the High Court for trial. This followed a confirmation by State Attorney Daisy Acio that the Inspectorate of Government (IG) had completed all investigations.
The accused have been further remanded to Luzira Prison. They are scheduled to appear before the Registrar of the High Court Anti-Corruption Division on August 18, 2026, for the formal mention of their case.
A consolidated ruling on their pending bail applications is set to be delivered by the High Court on September 9, 2026.
The seven are accused of misappropriating government funds meant for donations and corporate social responsibility activities, which the Inspectorate of Government alleges were neither properly utilized nor returned to government.
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 charges include causing financial loss, embezzlement and money laundering.
According to the prosecution, Obore allegedly received Ug.Shs5.2 billion for donations and CSR activities but failed to implement the activities or return the money to Parliament.
Adilo is accused of receiving Ug. Shs14.1billion, while Okema allegedly received Ug.Shs3.8 billion for similar activities. The prosecution claims that neither official implemented the activities or accounted for the funds.
The accused have been remanded to Luzira Prison until August 18th, when they are expected to appear before Anti-Corruption Court Deputy Registrar Patrick Talisuna for further directions.
Magistrate Esther Asiimwe read and explained the charges, indictment and summary of evidence to Obore and the six other accused.
Meanwhile, Stella Itute, a Parliament staff member who had been charged in absentia after failing to appear in court, has been dropped from the charge sheet.
Her lawyer, Asuman Basalirwa, told court that he had lost contact with Itute and was no longer in personal conduct of her case.
The IG alleges that the seven officials collectively received Shs26.8billion 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.
It is alleged Obore knowingly submitted false accountabilities for the money.
