Grace Gidudu has been appointed Acting Director of Communication and Public Affairs at Parliament, stepping into the role following the arrest and remand of substantive director Chris Obore over alleged corruption.
Gidudu, who has been serving as Assistant Director in charge of Media Relations, is a long-serving member of the Parliamentary Service with extensive experience in public communication.
Her appointment comes at a time when Parliament’s communications department is under scrutiny following the arrest and charging of Obore and six other senior officials over an alleged multi-billion shilling corruption scandal.
Obore, alongside Daniel Adilo, director of human resource; Leonard Okema, executive secretary in the Office of the Speaker; Rajab Kaaya Ssemalulu, principal research officer; Okwi Emmanuel Emuron, principal protocol officer; Vincent Otebata, capacity development officer; and Murebe Methods, chief executive officer of the Parliamentary SACCO, was remanded to Luzira Prison.
Prosecution alleges that between 2023 and May 2026, the accused persons used their positions to access public funds which they allegedly diverted for personal use, causing financial loss to Parliament.
Court documents indicate that Adilo is accused of embezzling the largest share, with prosecutors claiming he diverted Shs 14.609 billion while serving as director of human resource.
Obore is alleged to have embezzled Shs 5.253 billion, while Vincent Otebata is accused of diverting a similar amount during the same period.
Leonard Okema is charged with embezzlement involving Shs 3.489 billion, while Rajab Kaaya Ssemalulu allegedly diverted Shs 2.170 billion.
Okwi Emmanuel Emuron is accused of embezzling Shs 1.1 billion, bringing the total amount allegedly misappropriated by the accused persons to approximately Shs 31.95 billion.
According to the prosecution, investigations uncovered sufficient evidence to support charges of embezzlement, causing financial loss and money laundering.
The accused are also jointly facing money laundering charges, with prosecutors alleging that between January 2023 and April 2026, some of the suspects processed and received Shs 10.893 billion, knowing the funds were proceeds of crime.
“The accused persons knowingly processed, approved and received Shs 10,893,071,150, being proceeds of crime, contrary to the Anti-Money Laundering Act,” the indictment reads in part.
The case has raised fresh concerns about financial management and accountability within Parliament, even as Gidudu takes over the communications docket in an acting capacity.
