Obore Accused of Using Villagers' IDs to Account for Shs 675 Million

Chris Obore Ariko, the director of communications and public affairs at Parliament, is facing serious allegations of misusing public funds. A petition filed with the Inspector General of Government (IGG) claims that Obore used the National Identification Cards and driving permits of drivers from Bukedea district without their knowledge to justify expenditures totaling over Shs 675 million.

The Kachumbala Drivers and Loaders Association brought the issue to light in a petition dated July 2, 2026. Their chairperson, Julius Opedun, stated that members were shocked to discover that their identification documents had been attached to accountability records submitted under the Parliamentary Commission.

According to the petition, several members’ identities were allegedly used to account for significant sums of money, with individuals like Erick Masai reportedly listed for Shs 160 million and Anguri Yazidi for Shs 80 million, among others. None of the listed individuals claim to have received any of these funds.

The association argues that the alleged misuse of their identities has caused them distress and damaged their reputation. Robert Eretu, one of the individuals named as having received Shs 60 million, expressed shock, stating he never received the money and lived in fear after learning his identity was allegedly used for a crime he did not commit.

Local leaders in Bukedea district also expressed surprise, noting that the individuals named are struggling financially, making the reported large sums of money tagged to them appear fraudulent. The association suspects their IDs may have been misused after being submitted previously when seeking financial assistance from district leaders.

This development comes amidst ongoing investigations into corruption involving parliamentary officials. Obore himself was recently remanded on charges including embezzlement and money laundering, to which he has pleaded not guilty. The fresh complaint suggests a potentially broader scope of alleged financial impropriety, involving the use of ordinary citizens’ identification for questionable public spending.

https://observer.ug/news/how-obore-used-bukedea-villagers-ids-to-account-for-shs-675m