Uganda Parliament Officials Detained in Shs 32 Billion Graft Probe

The Inspectorate of Government (IG) has apprehended at least eight high-ranking officials from Uganda’s Parliament, citing alleged involvement in the embezzlement of a substantial sum exceeding Shs 32 billion. Among those detained are Chris Obore, the Director of Communications, Daniel Adilo (Director of Human Resources), and Leonard Okema (Executive Secretary in the Office of the Speaker).

Other officials arrested include Rajab Kaaya Ssemalulu (Principal Research Officer), Emmanuel Okwi Emuron (Principal Protocol Officer), Vincent Otebata (Capacity Development Officer), and Methods Murebe, the CEO of the Uganda Parliamentary Cooperative Savings and Credit Society (Sacco).

These arrests signify a deepening investigation into the financial and administrative conduct of Parliament, which has faced intense public scrutiny over the past two years. Allegations of abuse of office, irregular expenditure, and misuse of public funds have been central to these inquiries.

The IG expects to present the specific charges against the detained officials before the Anti-Corruption Court. This development signals an expansion of the investigation’s scope, moving beyond political figures to encompass key technical and administrative staff responsible for the day-to-day operations of Parliament.

The probe aligns with broader efforts by anti-corruption agencies in Uganda to tackle graft among public officials accused of mismanaging taxpayer funds. The Anti-Corruption Court has seen an increase in cases involving various public sectors, reflecting a governmental push for a stronger stance against corruption.

Source: https://observer.ug/news/parliaments-chris-obore-6-others-arrested-over-corruption