Former Parliament Director of Communications and Public Affairs Chris Obore and six other senior parliamentary officials have been granted bail by the Anti-Corruption Court after spending more than two months on remand over alleged corruption and financial loss.
Obore was granted Sh30m cash bail, while his sureties were bonded at Sh300m non-cash. He was also ordered to deposit his passport and a land title for property in Kiwanga, Mukono, as part of the conditions for his release.
The court warned that the property could be forfeited if he violates the bail conditions.
The other six accused were also granted bail, bringing temporary relief to a case that has attracted considerable public attention because of the seniority of the officials involved and the billions of shillings cited in the allegations.
The bail ruling was delivered on Wednesday by Justice Michael Elubu of the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court.
The ruling came about two weeks after former Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among was released from house arrest following a decision by President Yoweri Museveni that she would not face prosecution over allegations that had been investigated by security agencies.
Among’s release has become an important political backdrop to the developments surrounding the parliamentary officials, with some commentators linking the two events. However, the court’s decision to grant bail to Obore and his co-accused was based on their individual applications, the evidence presented by their lawyers and the applicable legal principles.
The Seven Accused
Those granted bail alongside Obore are former Director of Human Resource Daniel Adilo, former Executive Secretary in the Office of the Speaker Leonard Okema, Principal Research Officer Rajab Kaaya Ssemalulu, Principal Protocol Officer Emmanuel Okwi Emuron, Capacity Development Officer Vincent Otebata and Parliamentary SACCO chief executive officer Methods Murebe.
The seven had been charged with offences including embezzlement, causing financial loss to government and money laundering.
The Inspectorate of Government alleges that the officials were involved in the mismanagement of funds at Parliament, with the alleged financial loss placed at about Sh27.2bn.
According to the prosecution case, the alleged offences occurred between 2023 and 2026, involving funds connected to Parliamentary Commission activities, including donations and corporate social responsibility programmes.
The accused have denied the allegations. The Inspectorate of Government had opposed their applications for bail, arguing that investigations were ongoing and that some of the accused could interfere with witnesses, many of whom are parliamentary employees.
The defence, however, argued that their clients had fixed places of residence, substantial sureties and strong ties to Uganda and therefore posed no flight risk.
The lawyers also argued that the offences were bailable and that the accused were willing to comply with any conditions imposed by court.
Obore’s Bail Conditions
During the earlier bail proceedings, Obore’s lawyers told court that he had permanent residences in Mukono and Bukedea.
The defence presented property documents and a valuation report in support of his application. His proposed sureties included his sister, Bukedea MP David Okware Bechaam, Bukedea LCV chairperson Simon Ongura, KCCA official Ibrahim Ogalam and Makerere University Business School lecturer Anthony Kirara.
Obore also told court that he was the sole breadwinner for his young family and that his detention had affected the family’s ability to meet basic needs, including school fees, food and medical expenses.
He pledged to comply with court requirements and not interfere with investigations or prosecution witnesses.
Justice Elubu subsequently granted him bail with the Sh30m cash requirement and Sh300m non-cash bond for his sureties.
The Troubles Began In July
The case against the parliamentary officials began after the Inspectorate of Government intensified investigations into alleged financial impropriety at Parliament.
The officials were arrested in early July and subsequently appeared before the Anti-Corruption Court.
Six of them were remanded to Luzira Prison on July 1, according to the IGG, while Obore was among the senior officials whose arrest and prosecution became a major public issue.
Parliament later implemented the IGG’s directive to interdict Obore and six other senior officials pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings.
The IGG said the officials faced charges of embezzlement, money laundering and causing financial loss to government.
A further complication arose when the prosecution introduced money laundering charges, which are handled by the High Court. This created a jurisdictional problem for the lower court and eventually moved the bail applications to the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court.
The High Court scheduled September 9 for a consolidated ruling on the bail applications.
The accused were therefore required to remain on remand while their lawyers and the prosecution filed written submissions.
Among’s Release
The bail ruling comes against the backdrop of a major development involving former Speaker Anita Among.
In August, Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba announced that President Museveni had decided that Among would not be prosecuted over allegations investigated by security agencies.
“We shall not prosecute AAA. She made mistakes but Mzee has decided to forgive her,” Muhoozi said in the announcement.
Among later confirmed that she was free from house arrest and thanked President Museveni for what she described as “parental grace” and mercy.
Her release came after months of heightened scrutiny and security restrictions around her residence.
The former Speaker had not, however, been formally charged in the parliamentary corruption case involving Obore and the other officials.
The distinction is important because Among’s release was an executive decision concerning her own circumstances, while the bail granted to Obore and his co-accused was a judicial decision based on their applications. Nevertheless, the timing has generated public debate.
Political commentators and social media users have questioned whether Among’s release changed the political atmosphere surrounding the wider parliamentary investigations.
One social media user, Gideon Nova Kwikiriza, wrote: “Among was forgiven and now Chris Obore has been granted bail and that’s the END of the case,” reflecting speculation that the two developments could mark the beginning of the end of the controversy. However, bail does not terminate a criminal case.
Case Continues
The granting of bail means Obore and his six co-accused will be released subject to strict conditions as the prosecution prepares to proceed with the case.
The accused remain required to attend court whenever summoned and must comply with the conditions attached to their release.
The prosecution still has the responsibility of proving the charges against each accused beyond reasonable doubt.
The IGG has already indicated that it possesses documentary evidence it intends to rely on at trial, including employment records, Parliamentary Commission budgets, payment requisitions, accountability documents, bank statements and audit reports.
The prosecution also intends to rely on documents relating to alleged payments, Parliamentary SACCO transactions and reports concerning donations and corporate social responsibility expenditure. The accused remain innocent unless and until a court finds them guilty.
For Obore, the bail ruling marks the end of his stay in custody but not the end of the legal battle.
His release also returns the spotlight to the wider question of accountability for public resources and the management of financial programmes at Parliament.
As Obore and his co-accused leave custody, the case now enters another phase, with the prosecution expected to pursue the charges while the defence prepares to challenge the allegations.
The court’s decision has therefore provided temporary freedom for the accused, but the substantive corruption case remains before the courts.
Author Profile
- Mr. Stephen Kasozi Muwambi is a seasoned crime investigative writer, majoring in judicial-based stories. His two decades’ experience as a senior investigative journalist has made him one of the best to reckon on in Uganda. He can also be reached via [email protected]
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