Da Dona
JF-Expert Member
- Dec 16, 2025
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The Anti-Corruption Court has issued a warrant of arrest for Parliament office supervisor Stella Itute after she failed to appear in court to answer charges related to the alleged embezzlement of parliamentary funds.
Grade One Magistrate Esther Asiimwe issued the warrant on Monday after prosecutors from the Inspectorate of Government (IG) informed the court that repeated efforts to trace Itute had been unsuccessful.
Itute is among eight Parliament officials charged with alleged embezzlement, money laundering and causing financial loss to the government amounting to more than Shs27.2 billion.
Her co-accused are Parliament Director of Communications and Public Affairs Chris Obore Ariko, Director of Human Resource Daniel Adilo, Executive Secretary in the Office of the Speaker Leonard Okema, Principal Research Officer Rajab Kaaya Ssemalulu, Principal Protocol Officer Emmanuel Emuron Okwi, Capacity Development Officer Vincent Otebata and Uganda Parliamentary Cooperative Savings and Credit Society (SACCO) Chief Executive Officer Methods Murebe.
According to the charge sheet, Itute is accused of embezzling Shs75 million, the smallest amount allegedly misappropriated by any of the accused. Sources indicate she was on leave from Parliament when her co-accused were arrested earlier this month.
The prosecution alleges that Obore embezzled Shs5.253 billion, Adilo Shs14.609 billion, Okema Shs3.489 billion, Ssemalulu Shs2.170 billion, Okwi Shs1.105 billion, and Otebata Shs5.253 billion.
Prosecutors contend that the accused abused their positions in Parliament to access and divert funds earmarked for parliamentary donations and corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities, causing a financial loss of Shs27.201 billion to the Government of Uganda.
In addition to the corruption-related charges, Obore, Adilo, Okema, Ssemalulu, Otebata and Murebe also face money laundering charges. The prosecution alleges that between January 2023 and April 2026, they processed, approved and received Shs10.893 billion, knowing the money was the proceeds of crime.
During Monday's proceedings, IG Manager of Prosecutions Brenda Kimbugwe told the court that all the accused were present except Itute, whose whereabouts remain unknown.
"We have been trying to locate her for a long time without success. We therefore pray for a warrant of arrest," Kimbugwe submitted.
A lawyer holding brief for defence counsel Asuman Basalirwa said he could not account for Itute's absence because he was only representing Basalirwa, who had not yet arrived in court.
After hearing both sides, Magistrate Asiimwe granted the prosecution's application and ordered all police officers across Uganda to arrest Itute on sight and produce her before the Anti-Corruption Court on August 10, 2026, when the case returns for mention.
The court also heard that the High Court is scheduled to hear bail applications filed by the remaining accused on August 3, 2026. Defence lawyers requested production warrants to enable prison authorities to present the accused before the High Court.
However, Magistrate Asiimwe declined the request, explaining that only the High Court has the authority to issue production warrants for proceedings before it.
"If the High Court fixed the bail hearing, it will issue the necessary production warrants," she ruled.
The accused, who have been on remand since July 2, 2026, were returned to Luzira Prison, where they will remain until the next mention of the case as investigations continue.
Observer UG.
