Parliament Under Fire as Shs70 Billion Corruption Case Pulls in Senior Officials

By Peter Luzinda 

 

KAMPALA, Uganda — July 4, 2026 — Uganda’s Parliament is facing a fresh corruption crisis after seven senior parliamentary staff members were charged over the alleged theft of more than Shs70 billion, in a case investigators say could expose deep financial irregularities inside the institution.

The officials appeared before the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala before being remanded to Luzira Prison as investigations continue.

The accused include Parliament’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Chris Obore, alongside several senior administrators who worked in departments linked to staff management and welfare operations during the leadership of former Speaker Anita Among.

Prosecutors accuse the officials of taking part in a scheme that allegedly diverted public money through suspicious payments, internal approvals and transactions connected to parliamentary financial structures.

According to investigators, the alleged fraud did not happen through a single transaction. Authorities believe the money was gradually moved over time using official systems that made the payments appear lawful on paper.

For many Ugandans hearing about the scandal for the first time, the case revolves around allegations that billions of shillings intended for parliamentary operations and staff-related programs were instead redirected through questionable processes involving senior insiders.

Part of the investigation focuses on the Parliamentary SACCO, a savings and credit cooperative used by staff members. Detectives suspect some SACCO transactions may have been used to process or conceal part of the funds now under investigation.

The Inspectorate of Government (IGG), Uganda’s anti-corruption body, says the suspects face charges including corruption, abuse of office, money laundering and causing financial loss to government.

The scandal has quickly grown beyond the officials already arrested. Investigators are now reviewing the role of senior political leaders who held influential positions in Parliament during the same period.

Former Leader of Opposition Mathias Mpuuga is reportedly among those being investigated over controversial parliamentary payments and financial approvals linked to the previous Parliament. However, authorities have not announced any criminal charges against him.

The case has also increased scrutiny on former Speaker Anita Among, whose administration is now under pressure to explain how such large sums of money could allegedly be lost within parliamentary systems.

Political analysts say the investigation could become a defining corruption case because it directly affects Parliament, the institution expected to oversee public spending and hold other government agencies accountable.

The accused officials are expected back in court as investigators continue reviewing bank records, payment approvals and internal financial documents connected to the alleged Shs70 billion scheme.

With public attention growing, the scandal is likely to fuel renewed calls for transparency and stronger anti-corruption reforms within Uganda’s public institutions.