High Court to hear Shs26bn parliament funds case.

The Anti-Corruption Magistrate’s Court in Kampala has committed six interdicted senior parliamentary officials to the High Court for trial over allegations linked to the loss of about 26 billion shillings in public funds meant for parliamentary donations, community engagements and corporate social responsibility activities.

Those committed for trial include former parliamentary Director of Communications Chris Ariko Obore, former Director of Human Resources Daniel Adilo, former Executive Secretary in the Office of the Speaker Leonard Okema, former Principal Research Officer Rajab Kaaya Ssemalulu, former Principal Protocol Officer Emmanuel Emuron Okwi and former Development Officer Vincent Otebata. Prosecutors allege that the officials obtained public funds for activities they did not carry out, resulting in financial loss to government.

According to the prosecution’s summary of evidence, Adilo allegedly received the largest amount at 14.1 billion shillings, followed by Obore with 5.2 billion, Okema with 3.8 billion and Ssemalulu with 1.8 billion shillings. Okwi faces an additional allegation involving 502 million shillings intended for fuel, allowances and transport refunds for stakeholder engagements in the central region, which prosecutors say were not conducted. Obore is also accused of filing false accountabilities for 2.5 billion shillings allocated to CSR activities between 2023 and 2026.

The Inspectorate of Government has also implicated Mareebe Methods, the Chief Executive Officer of Uganda Parliamentary Cooperative SACCO, in the alleged laundering of proceeds from the scheme. Prosecutors claim she helped some of the accused conceal and benefit from the money through personal loans and savings held within the cooperative. The State says it will rely on bank records, payment vouchers, loan agreements, audit and forensic reports, internal correspondence and testimony from investigators, parliamentary officials, bank staff and alleged beneficiaries from several districts.

Assistant Director of Prosecutions Brenda Kimbugwe Mawanda told court that the prosecution considers the evidence sufficient to support a full trial and will seek convictions on the charges. The accused persons will now face trial before the High Court, where prosecutors will be required to prove the allegations beyond reasonable doubt.