Geraldine Ssali, the former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, has returned to the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala as legal proceedings continue in a case involving an alleged Shs3.8 billion loss of public money. The latest appearance on February 5, 2026, once again placed the spotlight on a matter that has drawn intense public and political interest.
Ssali is jointly charged with Busiro East MP Michael Mawanda, Elgon MP Ignatius Mudimi Wamakuyu, Busiki County MP Paul Akamba, prominent lawyer Julius Taitankoko Kirya, and Principal Cooperative Officer Leonard Kavundira. Prosecutors accuse the group of engaging in abuse of office, conspiracy to defraud the government, causing financial loss, and money laundering.
According to the prosecution, the dispute centers on payments totaling Shs3.8 billion that were made to Kirya and Company Advocates. The funds were allegedly released as compensation for war losses claimed by the Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society, a cooperative that investigators say was not lawfully entitled to the money.
State lawyers contend that Ssali irregularly caused the cooperative to be added to the list of beneficiaries during the 2021/22 and 2022/23 financial years. They argue that the payments were not provided for in the approved supplementary budget and were made in violation of the Treasury Instructions of 2017.
The accused persons appeared before Grade One Magistrate Paul Mujuni for a routine mention of the case. However, the session did not proceed after the Assistant Registrar failed to show up in court, prompting an adjournment and further delaying the matter.
Court subsequently set April 15, 2026, as the next date for the case. Bail conditions for all the accused were also extended, allowing them to remain out of custody as they await the next stage of the proceedings.
All the accused have pleaded not guilty to the charges and continue to deny any wrongdoing. They insist that the accusations are baseless and politically motivated, and that the truth will emerge during trial.
Progress in the case has also been slowed by a constitutional application filed by MP Paul Akamba, who claims his rights were violated during his arrest and prosecution. Until the Constitutional Court delivers its ruling, the trial is expected to remain in limbo, as public debate over accountability in government compensation schemes continues to grow.
