Published on 18/07/2024
Ministry of Trade permanent Secretary, Geraldine Ssali Busuulwa, has been arrested and taken to the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala.
She faces charges of abuse of office, causing financial loss and conspiracy to defraud alongside other MPs including Michael Mawanda (NRM, Igara East), Ignatius Mudimi Wamakuyu (Elgon County), Paul Akamba (Busiki County), lawyer Julius Taitankoko Kirya and Mr Leonard Kavundira the Principal Cooperative Officer from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.
The development comes after Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Jane Frances Abodo amended the charge sheet to include Ssali.
The arrest comes after the parliamentary Committee on Tourism, Trade and Industry’s report frequently mentioned Ms. Ssali, highlighting her involvement in the irregular compensation of Bwavumpoloma Growers Cooperative claimants. In November 2021, the government allocated Shs2.7 billion to Bwavumpoloma Growers Cooperative.
During a meeting with the parliamentary committee, Ms. Ssali asserted that the payments were made before she became the accounting officer for the Trade Ministry. Members of Parliament recommended her interdiction, along with other public servants, to allow for a thorough investigation.
The compensation for war debt claimants dates back to the Eighth Parliament in the mid-2000s. Initially managed by the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, the responsibility was later transferred to the Trade Ministry. It remains unclear if detectives will investigate all the teams involved in processing the Shs164 billion compensation for cooperatives since 2006. Many public officers have since retired, passed away, or moved to other ministries.
