Former Ministry of Trade Permanent Secretary Geraldine Ssali has returned to the Anti-Corruption Court alongside several co-accused over allegations linked to the loss of Shs3.8 billion in public funds.
Ssali appeared on Wednesday before Grade One Magistrate Paul Mujuni for what was scheduled to be a routine mention of the case. However, the court was unable to proceed after the assistant registrar failed to appear. Magistrate Mujuni adjourned the matter to 15 April 2026 and extended bail for all the accused.
Prosecutors accuse Ssali of abusing her office, conspiring to defraud, causing financial loss and engaging in money laundering. The state alleges that during the 2021/22 and 2022/23 financial years, she irregularly authorised payments amounting to Shs3.8 billion to Kirya and Co. Advocates, purportedly as compensation for war-related losses.
According to the prosecution, the money was meant for Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society, which authorities say was improperly added to the list of beneficiaries despite being excluded from the approved supplementary budget. Investigators contend that the payments breached the 2017 Treasury Instructions.
The case also implicates Members of Parliament Michael Mawanda, Paul Akamba and Ignatius Mudimi Wamakuyu, as well as lawyer Julius Taitankoko Kirya and principal cooperative officer Leonard Kavundira.
All the accused have denied the charges. The trial has suffered repeated delays, partly due to a constitutional petition filed by Akamba challenging the legality of his arrest on human rights grounds. The main case remains on hold pending a decision by the Constitutional Court on that application.
