Ex-PS Ssali, MP Mawanda trial in sh3.8b coop cash case stalls for a year
The delay stems from a petition filed by Busiki County MP Paul Akamba, who is challenging his trial before the Anti-Corruption Court on grounds that he was allegedly tortured by security personnel.
The trial of former trade ministry permanent secretary Geraldine Ssali (centre) escorted by prison officers. (File photo)
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The trial of former trade ministry permanent secretary Geraldine Ssali and her co-accused over alleged corruption in a sh3.8 billion cooperative funding scheme has stalled for over a year.
On April 17, 2026, Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga of the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court adjourned the case to May 29, this year, pending a ruling by the Constitutional Court.
The delay stems from a petition filed by Busiki County MP Paul Akamba, who is challenging his trial before the Anti-Corruption Court on grounds that he was allegedly tortured by security personnel.
Akamba is seeking dismissal of the corruption charges, citing violations of his human rights.
Other accused persons in the case include lawyer Julius Kirya, Michael Mawanda Muranga (Igara East MP), Ignatius Wamakuyu Mudiimi (Elgon County MP) and Leonard Kavundira (principal cooperative officer at the trade ministry).
Prosecution alleges that the accused irregularly handled sh3.8 billion meant for Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society Limited.
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 war loss by the Government, yet it 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, the trade ministry.
It is further alleged that Ssali, during the financial years 2021/2022 and 2022/2023, made payments to Kirya and Company Advocates amounting to sh3.8 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 sh3.4 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 cooperative operations and assets were adversely affected, prompting the cooperative unions to seek compensation from the Government.