Uganda Parliament in Chaos After Obore Arrest and Dramatic Raids on Speaker Among’s Homes

KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s political establishment was plunged deeper into uncertainty on Saturday following the dramatic arrest of Parliament’s Director of Communication and Public Affairs, Chris Obore, in what insiders describe as an intensifying anti-corruption crackdown targeting influential figures linked to Speaker Anita Annet Among.

Obore, a veteran communications strategist and one of Among’s most outspoken defenders within government circles, was reportedly arrested by security operatives in Mukono on May 16, 2026. Authorities had not publicly disclosed the exact charges by Saturday evening, but sources familiar with the ongoing investigations said the arrest is connected to widening probes into alleged corruption, illicit enrichment, abuse of public resources, and suspected money laundering involving senior parliamentary officials.

The development marks another dramatic twist in a scandal that has steadily tightened its grip around Uganda’s Parliament, exposing growing tensions within the country’s political elite and fueling speculation about a fierce internal power struggle ahead of the anticipated Speakership contest.

For months, pressure has been mounting on Among and several individuals considered part of her inner political circle. Civil society activists, opposition voices, and online whistleblower networks associated with the controversial Uganda Parliament Exhibition campaign have repeatedly accused senior parliamentary officials of diverting billions of shillings in taxpayer funds through allegedly inflated expenditures, questionable procurement deals, and politically motivated activities presented as corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Obore had increasingly become one of the most visible public figures defending the Speaker against the allegations. Through media appearances and social media statements, he consistently rejected claims that Among was facing mounting legal and political pressure, instead portraying the controversy as part of a coordinated political operation designed to weaken her influence within the ruling establishment.

“All evil plans against AAA are known. The planners are known,” Obore wrote in a social media post earlier this month, using initials commonly associated with Speaker Anita Among. He further argued that discussions surrounding the Speakership race were merely being used as a cover for a broader political scheme targeting the Speaker.

In another sharply worded statement circulated online, Obore accused unnamed political rivals of orchestrating fake social media campaigns intended to blackmail the Speaker and damage her public image ahead of the expected parliamentary leadership contest.

Political observers say Obore’s alliance with Among became more pronounced after her rise from Deputy Speaker to Speaker of Parliament, a transition that intensified internal rivalries within the legislature. During that period, analysts noted that Obore appeared to distance himself from former Speaker Rebecca Kadaga as factional battles within Parliament escalated behind closed doors.

The pressure surrounding Among escalated even further on the same day as Obore’s reported arrest. Security teams drawn from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces and the Criminal Investigations Directorate are said to have carried out coordinated searches at properties linked to the Speaker in Nakasero and Kigo.

According to sources familiar with the operation, investigators searched for financial records, electronic devices, transaction documents, and other materials believed to be relevant to ongoing corruption and money laundering investigations. Some reports indicated that elite security personnel, including members of the Special Forces Command, could remain deployed around the properties as inquiries continue.

The unfolding events have triggered widespread political speculation across Kampala, with analysts suggesting the investigations may reflect deeper fractures within Uganda’s ruling establishment as senior figures position themselves ahead of future political battles.

President Yoweri Museveni has previously raised questions about the source of Among’s reported wealth, including allegations surrounding high-value real estate holdings and an expanding business empire. At one stage, the President reportedly demanded explanations regarding a luxury property linked to the Speaker in London, adding to public scrutiny surrounding her financial status.

Among has consistently denied wrongdoing. She has repeatedly maintained that her wealth was acquired legally through private business ventures and years of entrepreneurship before assuming high political office.

With arrests now underway and security investigations appearing to intensify, some of Uganda’s most powerful parliamentary figures are increasingly finding themselves at the center of what could become one of the country’s most politically sensitive corruption scandals in recent years.

The latest developments are expected to further sharpen divisions within Uganda’s political class, while raising new questions about accountability, power, and the future direction of Parliament at a time of growing public frustration over governance and state expenditure.