Obore, six co-accused granted bail after 2 months in jail

The Anti-Corruption court in Kampala has granted bail to interdicted parliament’s director of communications and public affairs, Chris Obore, and six co-accused facing charges arising from the alleged misappropriation of Shs 27.2 billion at parliament.

Justice Michael Elubu today, Wednesday, granted the seven accused bail after considering their applications and submissions from their lawyers and the Inspectorate of Government (IGG), which had opposed their release.

The accused are charged with embezzlement, causing financial loss and money laundering in connection with funds allegedly allocated to parliament for donations and corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities.

Under the bail terms, the accused will pay cash bail ranging from Shs 20 million to Shs 35 million. They were also ordered to deposit their passports with the registrar of the Anti-Corruption court and report to the deputy registrar on the first Monday of every month.

Justice Elubu further ordered the sureties to deposit certificates of title and other property documents with the court as security. Each accused is required to have sureties bound at Shs 300 million.

The judge clarified that the Shs 300 million is not a cash payment by the sureties, but a financial undertaking backed by the property documents presented to court. He warned that if any of the accused absconds, the properties pledged as security could be forfeited to the State.

Obore, who was represented by lawyer Richard Omongole, was granted Shs 30 million cash bail, secured by the certificate of title for his residence in Kiwanga.

Interdicted parliamentary Sacco chief executive officer Methods Mureebe was granted Shs 20 million cash bail, with the certificate of title for his residence in Goma Cell presented as security.

Rajab Kaaya Ssemalulu was also granted Shs 20 million cash bail, backed by a certificate of purchase for his home in Kyebando, while Emmanuel Okwi was granted Shs 20 million cash bail, with a certificate of title for property in Kyaggwe presented as security.

Interdicted parliament director of human resources Daniel Adilo was granted Shs 35 million cash bail, with a certificate of title for land in Kyaggwe presented as security.

Former executive secretary to the speaker Leonard Okema was granted Shs 35 million cash bail, against the title for his home in Katale, Bugema, in Kyengera. Vincent Otebata was granted Shs 30 million cash bail, with a certificate of purchase for land in Busukuma forming part of the security.

The successful applications were filed in July 2026, with defence lawyers arguing that their clients were entitled to bail because they had fixed places of residence and substantial sureties.

The lawyers also assured the court that the accused would comply with the conditions imposed and attend all subsequent proceedings.

The IGG, represented by lawyers led by Daisy Acio, opposed the applications, arguing that investigations were still ongoing and that some of the accused could interfere with witnesses, several of whom are Parliament employees.

The State also challenged some of the documents presented in support of the bail applications, including property titles, valuation reports and the suitability of some proposed sureties.

Prosecutors argued that Mureebe, who remains the chief executive officer of the Parliamentary Sacco, could interfere with witnesses because of his position. The prosecution further told the court that investigations had not been completed and asked for additional time to conclude them.

Justice Elubu, however, questioned the State’s claim that the accused were likely to interfere with witnesses and sought evidence to support the allegation.

He also scrutinised some of the property documents presented by the applicants and their sureties, particularly documents relating to jointly owned properties where powers of attorney had not been provided.

According to the IGG, all the accused except Mureebe received funds intended for Parliament’s donations and CSR programmes but allegedly failed to implement the programmes, resulting in a financial loss of Shs 27.201 billion to the government.

Adilo is separately accused of embezzling Shs 14 billion, while Kaaya is accused of embezzling Shs 2.1 billion. Okema faces a separate allegation of embezzling Shs 3.4 billion.

Obore, Adilo, Okema, Kaaya, Otebata and Mureebe also face charges of money laundering.

The accused have denied the allegations and remain presumed innocent until proven guilty. They have been in custody since July 2, 2026, and will regain their temporary freedom once they fulfil the bail conditions imposed by the court.

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