Geraldine Busuulwa Ssali, the Permanent Secretary (PS) to the Ministry of Trade Industry and Cooperatives, has been arrested by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit working together with the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) on preferred charges of abuse of office, causing financial loss, and conspiracy to defraud.
Ssali was arrested on Thursday, July 18, 2024, for conspiring with Members of Parliament to steal cooperatives’ cash. She is expected to appear in court on Friday, July 19, 2024.
Ssali, together with MPs Michael Mawanda Maranga, Wamakuyu, Akamba, Lawyer Julius Kirya Taitankonko, and Leonard Kavundira, a trade official, are accused of allegedly diverting around Ugx 3.4 billion meant for war loss compensation to Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society.
MPs Mawanda, Wamakuyu, and Akamba are currently facing new charges of receiving stolen property, money laundering, abuse of office, and theft by agents.
During the Financial Years of 2021/2022 and 2022/2023, while employed as the PS and assigned the role of Accounting Officer of the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives, Ssali irregularly made payments to Kirya and Co. Advocates totaling around Ugx 3,868,714,611 meant for Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society Limited in contravention of the Treasury Instructions of 2017, having reason to believe that such an act will cause financial loss to the government of Uganda.
