Parliament communications director Obore applies for bail
“I have a constitutional right to apply for bail pending trial,” he stated.Obore states that he is the sole breadwinner of his young family that is currently suffering since they are unable to meet their basic needs like food, school fees, clothing and medication due to his absence.
Obore applied for bail on July 6, through Omongole and Company Advocates. However, the court has not yet fixed a date for the hearing of his bail application.
KAMPALA - The director of communications and public affairs at Parliament, Chris Obore, has applied for bail at the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court in Kampala.
Obore applied for bail on July 6, through Omongole and Company Advocates. However, the court has not yet fixed a date for the hearing of his bail application.
Obore is currently on remand at Luzira Prison on corruption-related offences involving the alleged theft of sh70b.
He is battling the charges together with Daniel Adilo (Director Human Resource); Leonard Okema (Executive Secretary at the Office of the Speaker); Rajab Kaaya Ssemalulu (Principal Research Officer) and Emmanuel Okwi Emuron (Principal Protocol Officer).
Others are Vincent Otebata (Capacity Development Officer) and Methods Murebe (Parliamentary Cooperative Savings and Credit Society Limited Chief Executive Officer) and Stella Itute, the Supervisor in the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms at Parliament. Obore and the six co-accused are expected to return to court on July 27, 2026, for the mention of their case.
Obore has requested court to release him on bail on grounds that he has a fixed place of abode at Kyaggwe, Mutuba IV, Goma Division in Mukono municipality.
Obore states that he is the sole breadwinner of his young family that is currently suffering since they are unable to meet their basic needs like food, school fees, clothing and medication due to his absence.
The case
The parliament staff were charged with seven counts of embezzlement, contrary to section 18 (a) and (i) (iii) of the Anti-Corruption Act, and causing financial loss contrary to section 19 (1) of the same Act.
They were also charged with money laundering, contrary to section 3 (b) and (e) 119 and 139 (1) (a) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act.
The offence of money laundering elicits 15 years in jail or a fine not exceeding sh2b or both.
Prosecution alleges that between 2023 to May 2026, at Parliament, Obore stole sh5.25b belonging to his employer, Parliament, to which he had access by virtue of his employment.
The state alleges that Adilo and Okema stole sh14.6b and sh3.48b, respectively, from their employer during the same period by virtue of the positions they held.
According to the charge sheet, Ssemalulu is accused of stealing sh2.17b, while Emuron allegedly stole sh1.1b. Itute is accused of stealing sh75m, while Otebata allegedly stole sh5.25b during the same period.
Prosecutors allege that between 2023 and May 2026, the accused received funds earmarked for Parliament’s donations and Corporate Social Responsibility activities, but failed to implement the intended activities, knowing or having reason to believe that their actions would cause financial loss to the Government of Uganda.
Prosecution contends that the accused persons' actions resulted into a financial loss of sh27.2b to the Government.
In addition, prosecution alleges that with the exception of Itute, the accused persons between January 2023 and April 2026, at Parliament in Kampala, processed, approved and received sh10.89b while knowing that the funds were proceeds of crime.