Former Parliament Director of Communications Chris Obore has been granted Shs30 million cash bail and ordered to deposit his land title and passport with court as he faces charges related to the alleged mismanagement of billions of shillings in parliamentary funds.
Obore was on Wednesday granted bail after appearing in court alongside six other accused former Parliament officials.
As part of his bail conditions, Obore was ordered to deposit the title deed for his land in Kiwanga, Mukono, together with his passport. His sureties were bonded at Shs300 million non-cash.
Court warned that the property could be forfeited if Obore violates the bail conditions.
His co-accused were also granted bail, although the amounts varied. Mureebe Muhanuka, Rajab Kaaya Ssemalulu and Emmanuel Okwi were each granted Shs20 million cash bail, while Daniel Adiro and Leonard Okema were each granted Shs35 million. Vincent Tebata was granted Shs30 million cash bail.
The seven officials are facing nine charges arising from the alleged handling of funds allocated 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.
Prosecution alleges that Obore received Shs5.2531 billion for donations and CSR activities but did not carry out the activities or return the money to Parliament.
He also faces a separate allegation involving Shs2.578 billion that he allegedly received to manage parliamentary donations and CSR activities. Prosecutors claim that Obore knowingly submitted false accountabilities for the funds.
Other accused officials are also alleged to have received billions of shillings for activities that were reportedly never carried out.
Adiro is accused of receiving Shs14.11075 billion, while Okema allegedly received Shs3.8 billion for similar activities. Ssemalulu is alleged to have received Shs1.870108 billion, while Emuron allegedly received Shs1.105 billion.
The prosecution claims the officials neither implemented the activities for which the funds were allocated nor accounted for the money.
Tebata faces a separate allegation involving Shs502.534 million meant to cover fuel, subsistence allowances and transport refunds for external participants who were expected to attend a stakeholder engagement in the central region.
According to the prosecution, the engagement never took place and the money was not returned to Parliament.
The Inspector General of Government alleges that the seven officials collectively received Shs26.805892 billion for parliamentary donations, CSR programmes and stakeholder engagements but failed to implement the activities or account for the funds.
Prosecutors further allege that their actions caused the government a financial loss equivalent to the funds in question.
The accused have denied the allegations and will face the charges as the case proceeds.
