At least eight senior officials at Uganda’s Parliament have been arrested as part of an ongoing anti-corruption investigation into the alleged embezzlement of more than Shs32 billion, the Inspectorate of Government (IG) has confirmed.
The arrests mark the latest development in a wide-ranging investigation into the management of Parliament, which has faced increasing scrutiny over allegations of financial mismanagement, abuse of office and misuse of public funds.
Those arrested include Parliament’s Director of Communications, Chris Obore, Director of Human Resources Daniel Adilo, 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 the Chief Executive Officer of the Uganda Parliamentary Cooperative Savings and Credit Society (Sacco), Methods Murebe.
The Inspectorate of Government said the arrests were made as investigations into alleged corruption continue. The suspects are expected to appear before the Anti-Corruption Court, where details of the charges will be presented.
The investigation follows months of heightened public concern over Parliament’s financial and administrative operations. Over the past two years, state agencies have examined allegations involving procurement, recruitment, staff welfare schemes and the management of public funds, including those linked to the Uganda Parliamentary Sacco.
The scrutiny intensified during the tenure of former Speaker Anita Among, whose leadership came under criticism following allegations of irregular expenditure and abuse of office. The controversy sparked widespread public debate and prompted investigations by several government agencies, including the Inspectorate of Government.
Although Among has maintained a lower public profile in recent months as the investigations continue, no court has found her guilty of any criminal offence.
The latest arrests indicate that investigators are extending their inquiries beyond political leaders to include senior technical and administrative officials involved in Parliament’s day-to-day operations.
The developments also coincide with renewed efforts by Uganda’s anti-corruption agencies to pursue senior public officials accused of mismanaging taxpayers’ money. In recent years, the Anti-Corruption Court has handled an increasing number of cases involving accounting officers, ministers, local government officials and heads of public institutions as authorities seek to strengthen the fight against corruption.
