KAMPALA, Uganda
Uganda’s Anti-Corruption Court is expected to resume hearing a high-profile corruption case involving seven senior Parliament officials accused of embezzlement, money laundering, and abuse of office in an investigation that has intensified scrutiny of the country’s legislative institution.
The officials, who were remanded to Luzira Prison last week following investigations by the Inspectorate of Government (IGG), are accused of participating in the alleged diversion and concealment of billions of shillings in public funds linked to parliamentary operations and administrative expenditure.
The accused include Chris Obore, Parliament’s Director of Communication and Public Affairs; Daniel Adilo, 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 SACCO.
According to prosecutors, the investigations centre on alleged irregular payments, inflated procurement transactions, unauthorised expenditure approvals, and suspected laundering of public funds between 2023 and 2026.
Court records indicate that investigators believe some of the money may have been transferred through private accounts, SACCO structures, and related entities in an attempt to conceal the source and movement of the funds.
The case has attracted widespread national attention because it directly involves Parliament, the institution responsible for approving national budgets and overseeing public accountability across government ministries and agencies.
For first-time readers, the investigations emerged amid growing public criticism of Parliament’s expenditure and accountability systems. Over the past two years, civil society groups, opposition politicians, and anti-corruption activists have repeatedly accused senior parliamentary officials of misusing taxpayers' money, excessive expenditure, and a lack of transparency in procurement and welfare allocations.
The latest probe marks one of the most significant anti-corruption investigations involving Parliament in recent years.
Sources close to the investigations say detectives attached to the IGG, the State House Anti-Corruption Unit, and financial intelligence agencies have been reviewing procurement records, payment vouchers, bank transactions, and internal approval documents recovered during searches conducted at offices and premises linked to some of the suspects.
Meanwhile, former Speaker Anita Annet Among, now serving as the Bukedea District Woman Member of Parliament, is expected to appear before the Anti-Corruption Court today at 10:00 a.m. amid reports that prosecutors are preparing additional charges linked to the widening investigations.
Although the anti-corruption operation is primarily being led by the IGG, reports that some charges against Among could first be read before the General Court Martial have triggered legal and political debate over the role of military courts in civilian corruption cases.
Among has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and maintains that the allegations against her are politically motivated.
Today’s proceedings are expected to determine whether the accused officials will remain on remand as investigations continue into what authorities describe as a complex network of financial irregularities within Uganda’s Parliament.
