Ex-PS Ssali, MP Mawanda coop cash case resumes Monday

KAMPALA - The case involving Geraldine Ssali, the former trade ministry permanent secretary, and her co-accused, who are battling corruption charges related to a shillings 3.8 billion cooperative funding scheme, resumes today, Monday, at the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala.

Her co-accused include 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).

The case is coming up for mention before Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga, awaiting the Appellate Court's decision on an application filed by Paul Akamba, the Busiki County MP, challenging his trial at the Anti-Corruption Court.

Akamba’s petition has halted the hearing of the case, in which he, Ssali, and others are accused of corruption charges related to shillings 3.8 billion meant for Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society Limited.

Geraldine Ssali (C), the former trade ministry permanent secretary. (New Vision/Files)

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 would 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.