The Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court has fixed September hearing dates for the long-delayed trial of former Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Permanent Secretary Geraldine Ssali and five co-accused, who face charges linked to the alleged theft and mismanagement of billions of shillings in government compensation funds.
Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga on Wednesday set September 9, 10, 15, 17 and 24, 2026, for the hearing, directing the prosecution to complete disclosure of evidence to the defence by June 26.
The accused persons — Ssali, Igara East MP Michael Mawanda Maranga, Elgon County MP Ignatius Wamakuyu Mudimi, former Busiki County MP Paul Akamba, lawyer Julius Taitankoko Kirya, and principal cooperative officer Leonard Kavundira — had their bail extended. Kavundira was absent from Wednesday’s proceedings.
The case had been on hold following a Constitutional Court ruling that struck down a provision of the Human Rights Enforcement Act under which one of the accused, Akamba, had filed an application that previously brought proceedings to a standstill.
Justice Kajuga told court that under the Act, trial is required to be suspended whenever an accused raises a human rights enforcement matter, which is what had stalled the case. With the Constitutional Court’s ruling, she said the trial could now proceed, though Akamba’s application would still be heard separately on July 1, 2026.
Akamba, however, maintained that he still wished to pursue his application and argued that Section 8 of the Human Rights Enforcement Act — which he said was not among the nullified provisions — remained in force. “It is my humble prayer that my application should be fixed for hearing,” he told the court.
Prosecution acknowledged it had not yet concluded evidence disclosure, attributing the lapse to the extended stay of proceedings. Chief State Attorney Edward Muhumuza asked for an August hearing slot, but the judge held firm on September and directed disclosure to be completed by June 26.
Justice Kajuga also flagged the need to replace one of the court assessors, noting that one had since died and she did not consider it appropriate to proceed with only two assessors. The court registrar was directed to vet two replacement candidates before the hearing begins.
Counsel for Ssali, John Isabirye, informed court that his client was scheduled for surgery on August 25 and would need at least a week to recover. He also noted that several defence lawyers would be occupied with election petition matters in July and August — a consideration that factored into the September scheduling.
The judge indicated she intends to handle the matter in a concentrated session format, preferably across five consecutive days.
