The High Court has granted bail to Parliament Director of Communication Chris Obore and six others accused of embezzlement, money laundering and causing government financial loss of more than Shs27 billion.
The seven were arrested on July 2, 2026, following orders by Inspector General of Government Aisha Naluzze and have denied all the charges against them.
They appeared before the High Court today for a ruling on their bail applications, which had previously been scheduled for July 9.
Justice Michael Elubu granted the accused bail but attached stringent conditions, including cash bail, land titles, passports and substantial surety bonds.
Obore was granted Shs30 million cash bail and ordered to deposit the title of his residence in Kiwanga with court. He must also surrender his passport to the Registrar. His sureties are required to execute a Shs300 million bond and provide land titles as security.
Methods Murebe, Chief Executive Officer, Uganda Parliamentary Cooperative Savings and Credit Society (Parliamentary SACCO) was granted Shs20 million cash bail and ordered to deposit the certificate of title for his residence in Goma Cell, together with his passport. His sureties must execute a Shs300 million bond.
Kaaya Rajab Principal Research Officer, Parliament was also granted Shs20 million cash bail. He presented a certificate of purchase for his home in Kyebando as security and was ordered to deposit his passport with court. His sureties must execute a Shs300 million bond.
Okui Emmanuel, Principal Protocol Officer, Parliament was granted Shs20 million cash bail and directed to present a certificate of title for land in Kyaggwe. He must also surrender his passport to court, while his sureties are required to execute a Shs300 million bond.
Adilo Daniel, Director of Human Resource, Parliament was granted Shs35 million cash bail and required to present a land title for property in Kyaggwe. His sureties must execute a Shs300 million bond.
Okema Leonard, Executive Secretary, Office of the Speaker was granted Shs35 million cash bail and presented land in Katale-Bugema, Kyengera, where his home is located, as security. He was also ordered to deposit his passport with court, while his sureties must execute a Shs300 million bond.
Otebata Vincent, Capacity Development Officer, Parliament was granted Shs30 million cash bail. He was ordered to present a certificate of land purchase for property in Busukuma, deposit his passport with court and provide sureties worth Shs300 million.
Justice Elubu further directed that all certificates of title presented by the sureties during the bail hearing shall stand as security for the bail.
The accused persons were also ordered to report to the Deputy Registrar of the High Court on the first Monday of every month. The judge warned that should any of the accused abscond, the land titles deposited as security would be forfeited to the State.
The bail ruling now allows the seven accused to remain out of custody as they continue defending themselves against the Shs27 billion financial loss allegations.
The case stems from an investigation by the Inspectorate of Government into the alleged misuse of parliamentary funds allocated for donations and Corporate Social Responsibility programmes.
Obore and six other senior parliamentary officials were arrested on July 2, 2026, after reporting to the IG offices to record additional statements, and were subsequently charged with embezzlement, causing financial loss to government and money laundering.
Prosecution alleges that the handling of the funds caused a Shs27.201 billion loss to government, while six of the accused are separately accused of processing and receiving Shs10.893 billion knowing or having reason to believe it was proceeds of crime.
Prosecution separately alleges that Obore, Adilo, Okema, Kaaya Ssemalulu, Otebata and Murebe processed, approved and received Shs10.893 billion between January 2023 and April 2026, knowing or having reason to believe that the money constituted proceeds of crime.
On July 31, 2026, IGG Lady Justice Aisha Naluzze Batala directed the Clerk to Parliament to interdict seven senior parliamentary officials.The IGG said the interdiction was necessary while the criminal proceedings continued.
The charge sheet also contains individual allegations against the officials. Chris Obore, alleged embezzlement of Shs5.253 billion
Daniel Adilo Shs14.609 billion, Leonard Okema Shs3.489 billion, Rajab Kaaya Ssemalulu Shs2.170 billion, Emmanuel Emuron Okwi Shs1.105 billion, Vincent Otebata Shs5.253 billion and Stella Itute Shs75 million.
Stella Itute is connected to the case but is not one of the seven who were arrested and are before court for the bail ruling. She was charged alongside them in absentia and is identified in court reports as an Office Supervisor in the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms.
