Court summons MP Akamba in sh3.8b coop cash case

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Court has issued criminal summons against Busiki County MP Paul Akamba after he failed to show up for mention of a shillings 3.8 billion cooperatives case.

The summons was prompted by state prosecutor Raymond Mugisa, who Monday, asked the Nakasero-based Anti-Corruption Court presiding assistant registrar, Patrick Talisuna, to issue the summons for Akamba after he failed to turn up in court.

Talisuna was sitting in for Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga, who was absent.

“We pray for criminal summons for Akamba and an adjournment for the case,” Mugisha requested.

Akamba arrived in court when the registrar had already issued criminal summons for him and adjourned the case to June 6, 2025, for the mention.

The state prosecutor also informed the court that they are still waiting for a Constitutional Court ruling on the human rights application filed by Akamba.

Akamba is challenging his trial at the Anti-Corruption Court, alleging that his human rights were violated by security operatives.

Akamba and five others are accused of corruption charges related to shillings 3.8 billion meant for Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society Limited.

His co-accused include former trade ministry permanent secretary Geraldine Ssali,  lawyer Julius Kirya and MPs, Michael Mawanda Muranga (Igara East), Ignatius Wamakuyu Mudiimi (Elgon County) and Leonard Kavundira (the principal co-operative officer at the trade ministry).

Allegations

Prosecution alleges that Ssali, during the financial year 2021/2022, in abuse of her authority, irregularly introduced Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society among the cooperatives to be compensated for the war loss by the Government, which was not listed on the request for the supplementary budget dated August 4, 2021.

According to the prosecution, the arbitrary act is prejudicial to her employer (trade ministry).

It is further alleged that Ssali, during the financial year 2021/2022 and 2022/2023, made payments to Kirya and Company Advocates amounting to shillings 3.8 billion meant for Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society in contravention of the treasury instructions of 2017.

Prosecution added that she did this knowing or having reason to believe that such an act will cause financial loss to the Government.

It is alleged that Ssali, together with the five accused persons and others still at large, between 2019 and 2023, conspired to defraud the Government of shillings 3.4 billion, which was intended for war loss compensation meant for Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society.

Court documents indicate that during the liberation war of 1981 to 1986 and the insurgencies that prevailed in some parts of the country, some cooperatives' operations and assets were adversely affected, prompting the cooperative unions to seek compensation from the Government.