Indicted parliament’s director of communications and public affairs, Chris Ariko Obore, and six other officials have been committed to the High court to face charges arising from the alleged embezzlement of Shs 26.8 billion in parliamentary funds.Grade one magistrate Esther Asiimwe committed the seven following the completion of investigations by the Inspectorate of Government (IG).The accused include Obore; parliament’s director of human resource Daniel Adilo; executive secretary in the Office of the Speaker Leonard Okema; principal research officer Rajab Kaaya Ssemalulu; principal protocol officer Okwi Emmanuel Emuron; capacity development officer Vincent Otebata; and Methods Mureebe, the chief executive officer of the Uganda Parliamentary Cooperative Savings and Credit Society (Parliamentary Sacco).State Attorney Daisy Acio, supervisor of prosecutions at the Office of the Inspectorate of Government, told court that investigations had been completed and the prosecution was ready to proceed with the case.She also informed court that Stella Itute, formerly listed as the sixth accused, had been dropped from the charge sheet pending her arrest after investigators established that she was at large.The accused have been committed to the High court to face nine charges arising from the alleged handling of funds meant for parliamentary donations, corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities and stakeholder engagements between 2023 and May 2026.The charges include causing financial loss, embezzlement and money laundering. According to the prosecution’s summary of evidence, Obore, who was director of communications and public affairs during the period in question, allegedly received Shs 5.2531 billion for donations and CSR activities but neither implemented the activities nor refunded the money to parliament.Adilo is alleged to have received Shs 14.11075 billion, while Okema allegedly received Shs 3.8 billion for similar activities. The prosecution alleges that neither official implemented the activities or refunded the money.Ssemalulu is alleged to have received Shs 1.870108 billion, while Emuron allegedly received Shs 1.105 billion for donations and CSR activities, which the prosecution says were neither implemented nor accounted for.Otebata is separately accused of receiving Shs 502.534 million meant for fuel, subsistence allowances and transport refunds for external participants in a central-region stakeholder engagement exercise.The prosecution alleges that the engagement was not held and the money was not returned to parliament. The Inspectorate alleges that the accused collectively received Shs 26.805892 billion for parliamentary donations, CSR and stakeholder engagement activities but failed to implement the activities, knowing or having reason to believe that their actions would cause financial loss to the government.The prosecution further alleges that the transactions caused government a financial loss equivalent to the amount in question.Obore faces additional allegationObore is also facing a separate allegation involving Shs 2.578 billion, which he allegedly received to manage donations and CSR activities at parliament. The prosecution alleges that he knowingly furnished false accountabilities for the money.The Parliamentary Sacco also features prominently in the case, with its chief executive, Mureebe, accused of helping some of his co-accused access the alleged proceeds of crime disguised as personal loans or savings.Chris Obore in the dockAccording to the prosecution, Mureebe allegedly assisted his co-accused to benefit from the funds. Five of the parliamentary officials are further accused of jointly acquiring, possessing, using and administering Shs 10.497742 billion disguised as personal loans or savings through the Parliamentary Sacco, knowing that the money was proceeds of crime.The prosecution alleges that the transactions occurred while the accused were holding their respective positions at Parliament and the Parliamentary Sacco.Itute dropped from charge sheetMeanwhile, prosecutors have dropped Itute, who was formerly listed as A6, from the charge sheet. During the proceedings, her lawyer, Asuman Basalirwa, told court that he had lost contact with his client.The prosecution subsequently informed court that Itute had been removed from the charge sheet and was no longer part of the indictment committed to the High court. She remains wanted by investigators.EvidenceThe prosecution said it will rely on witnesses and documentary evidence from several government institutions and financial institutions to prove the case.Expected witnesses include officials from the Parliamentary Commission, parliament, Parliamentary Sacco, Bank of Uganda, ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Centenary bank, Absa bank, dfcu bank, Stanbic bank, Cairo Bank Uganda and the Inspectorate of Government.The Directorate of Government Analytical Laboratory and Uganda Police Force are also expected to provide witnesses.The prosecution also plans to call alleged beneficiaries of parliamentary donations and CSR programmes from districts including Bukedea, Ngora, Kumi, Serere, Pallisa, Mbale, Kole, Kitgum, Amuru, Agago, Amudat, Amuria, Katakwi, Gulu, Moroto, Mukono, Buikwe, Rakai, Arua, Koboko, Yumbe, Moyo, Adjumani, Madi-Okollo, Soroti and Kapelebyong, among others.The documentary evidence includes employment records of the accused, approved Parliamentary Commission budgets for financial years 2022/23 to 2025/26, payment requisitions and accountability documents.The prosecution will also tender personal loan agreements between some of the accused and the Parliamentary Sacco, Bank of Uganda statements for the Parliamentary Commission operations account, Parliamentary Sacco statements held at Cairo Bank, Integrated Financial Management System payment registers and parliament’s treasury single account records.Bank statements from dfcu, Absa, Cairo Bank and Stanbic, together with bank inspection orders and waste cheques, are also listed among the evidence. The prosecution further intends to rely on correspondence from the clerk to parliament and loan documents from the Parliamentary Sacco.Other evidence includes an audit report covering donations and CSR expenditure between 2023 and 2026 and a separate report addressing alleged false accounting and misappropriation by Obore.A forensic document examiner’s report from police is also expected to form part of the prosecution evidence.The evidence signed by Inspector General of Government Lady Justice Aisha Naluzze Batala includes accountability documents allegedly submitted by Obore, which investigators intend to use to demonstrate the alleged falsification of accounts.The Inspectorate says it will argue at trial that the accused have no valid defence or lawful excuse for the alleged offences and will seek their conviction.The committal clears the way for the case to proceed before the Anti-Corruption Division of the High court, where the prosecution will be required to prove each charge beyond reasonable doubt.Meanwhile, Justice Michael Elubu is expected to rule on the accused persons’ bail applications on September 9, 2026. Until then, the accused will remain in Luzira Prison.The post Obore, six others committed to High court over Shs 26.8bn parliament funds theft appeared first on The Observer Media Ltd.