Eight senior Parliament officials have been charged with embezzlement, causing financial loss and money laundering as the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) steps up investigations into the alleged misuse of billions of shillings in public funds.
The officials were arrested on Thursday after being summoned from the ongoing Members of Parliament induction retreat at Speke Resort Munyonyo. They had been instructed to report to the Inspectorate of Government headquarters to record statements as part of the investigation.
When they arrived at the Jubilee House offices, they found a heavy deployment of police and military personnel before they were taken into custody.
Those charged include Parliament’s Director of Communication and Public Affairs, Chris Ariko Obore, Director of Human Resource Daniel Adilo, Executive Secretary in the Office of the Speaker Leonard Okema, Principal Research Officer Rajab Kaaya Ssemalulu, Capacity Development Officer Vincent Otebata, Personal Assistant Stella Itute, and Parliamentary SACCO Chief Executive Officer Methods Murebe.
According to the prosecution, the officials are accused of embezzling large sums of public money between 2023 and May 2026 while serving in their respective positions at Parliament.
Charge sheets indicate that Chris Obore is accused of embezzling Shs5.253 billion, while Daniel Adilo faces the biggest claim of Shs14.608 billion. Leonard Okema is accused of stealing Shs3.489 billion, Rajab Kaaya Ssemalulu Shs2.17 billion, Vincent Otebata Shs5.253 billion, and Stella Itute Shs75 million.
The prosecution alleges that the accused unlawfully took public funds that came into their possession through their official duties, leading to charges under the Anti-Corruption Act.
They also face charges of causing financial loss, with prosecutors arguing that their actions resulted in significant losses to the government.
In addition, six of the officials, Chris Obore, Daniel Adilo, Leonard Okema, Rajab Kaaya Ssemalulu, Vincent Otebata and Methods Murebe, have been jointly charged with money laundering.
Prosecutors allege that between January 2023 and April 2026, the group processed, approved and received Shs10.893 billion despite allegedly knowing that the money was the proceeds of criminal activity.
The charges were approved by Inspector General of Government Justice Aisha Naluzze Batala.
Investigators say the arrests followed weeks of questioning involving several current and former Parliament officials over financial transactions allegedly made through personal accounts and the subsequent use of the funds.
The latest charges mark a significant development in the widening corruption investigation that has placed Parliament under intense public scrutiny.
Former Speaker Anita Annet Among has not been charged or arrested. However, security agencies have previously searched her residences in Kampala, Kigo and Bukedea, together with her former office at Parliament, as investigators continue examining the management of parliamentary resources during her tenure.
Investigators have also searched several offices within Parliament as they gather evidence relating to financial management and the conduct of officials who served under the former Speaker’s administration.
The accused officials remain in custody and are expected to appear before the Anti-Corruption Court as investigations continue.
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