The Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala has issued a warrant of arrest against the Office Supervisor for the Sargent at Arms at Parliament, Stella Itute, to answer charges related to alleged embezzlement of UGX 36 billion at Parliament.
On Monday, Grade One Magistrate Esther Asiimwe issued the warrant following prosecutors from the Inspectorate of Government (IG) making the application while informing court that repeated efforts to trace Itute had been unsuccessful.
Itute is charged alongside several Parliament officials including the Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Chris Obore Ariko, and six other senior Parliament officials, on charges of embezzlement, money laundering and causing financial loss of more than UGX 30 billion.
Itute is accused of embezzling UGX 75 million, the smallest amount among the sums allegedly misappropriated by the accused persons in the case
The six other officials include; Mr. Adilo Daniel, Director Human Resource, Mr. Okema Leonard, Executive Secretary, Office of Speaker , Mr. Rajab Kaaya Ssemalulu, Principal Research Officer, Mr. Okwi Emmanuel Emuron, Principal Protocol Officer, Mr. Otebata Vincent, Capacity Development Officer, Mr. Murebe Methods, Chief Executive Officer, Uganda Parliamentary Cooperative Savings & Credit Society Ltd (SACCO).
The officials are charged with embezzlement of more than UGX 31 billion, according to court records, the suspects were charged with multiple counts of embezzlement contrary to Section 18(a) and (i) (iii) of the Anti-Corruption Act, Cap 116.
The officials are accused of diverting public funds for personal use between 2023 and May 2026, leading to substantial financial loss to the institution.
Itute’s co-accused, who have been on remand for several weeks have since applied for bail before the High Court, which is set to be heard on August 3rd.
