By Joseph Kiggundu
KAMPALA.Parliament’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs Mr Chris Obore, and Director of Human Resource, Mr Daniel Adilo have been replaced just days after their arrest over corruption and money laundering.
Mr Obore has been replaced with his assistant Grace Gidudu while Adilo has been replaced with Benson Masereka Oniz, one of the directors that had been benched during former Speaker Anita Among’s reign.
Obore, Adilo and six other senior officers of Parliament were arrested by the Inspector General of Government (IGG) for embezzling billions of taxpayer’s money.
Obore is accused by the IGG of embezzling shs 5.253 billion between 2023 and May 2026, allegedly abusing his access to public funds within his office to divert money meant for official use.
He is also linked to a wider shs 10.893 billion scheme involving senior Parliament officials who “processed, approved and received” funds now alleged to be proceeds of crime.
On the other hand, Adilo is accused of embezzling shs 14.608 billion between 2023 and May 2026, allegedly diverting public funds accessed through his office.
He is also named in a broader shs 10.893 billion case involving senior Parliament officials who “processed, approved and received” funds alleged to be proceeds of crime.
Obore and Adilo are close confidants of the embattled former Speaker Anita Among who is under house arrest for corruption and illicit enrichment.
Adilo’s recruitment to Parliament has also come under scrutiny.
Adilo was transferred from the Electoral Commission (EC) to Parliament on the orders of former Speaker Anita Among, and within just three years, rose to Director, the highest human resource position in the institution .Adilo resigned from the EC to pave the way for his recruitment at Parliament. At the EC, he was an officer (entry level) ,but at Parliament he reached Director level in just three years.
Reports indicate that he was made director for human resource which still had another Director, meaning that the department had two serving directors.
Rights Activist and journalist Agather Atuhaire who has exposed massive corruption and dirty dealings at Parliament, said that it was “unprecedented” for a department to have two directors.
“But it had become common at parliament in the last 5 years. There were several Directors that were put on ‘katebe’ (bench) (because she (Anita Among) couldn’t fire them) to pave way for her favorite people,” Atuhaire said
Other officials who have been arrested and charged with Obore and Adilo include; Leonard Okema (Executive Secretary, Office of the Speaker) who is accused of embezzling shs 3.4 billion; Rajab Kaaya Ssemalulu (Principal Research Officer) – shs 2.17 billion; Emmanuel Okwi Emuron (Principal Protocol Officer) – shs 1.1 billion; Vincent Otebata (Development Officer) – shs 5.2 billion; Methods Murebe (CEO, Parliamentary Sacco) – shs 10.8 billion; and Stella Itute (Personal Assistant) – shs 75 million.
They were on Tuesday denied bail by the anti corruption court.