Former Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Permanent Secretary Geraldine Ssali has once again appeared before the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala, as legal proceedings continue in a controversial case involving an alleged Shs3.8 billion loss of public funds.
The court appearance on February 5, 2026, brought together several high-profile accused persons, keeping public attention firmly fixed on the matter.Ssali is charged alongside Busiro East MP Michael Mawanda, Elgon County MP Ignatius Mudimi Wamakuyu, Busiki County MP Paul Akamba, city lawyer Julius Taitankoko Kirya, and Principal Cooperative Officer Leonard Kavundira.
Prosecutors accuse the group of playing different roles in what they describe as a carefully coordinated scheme involving abuse of office, conspiracy to defraud government, causing financial loss, and money laundering.State prosecutors allege that the case stems from questionable payments totaling Shs3.8 billion made to Kirya and Company Advocates.
The money was reportedly released as compensation for war-related losses claimed by the Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society, a transaction authorities insist lacked proper legal and financial justification.Investigations further indicate that Ssali allegedly authorized the inclusion of the cooperative on a list of beneficiaries during the 2021/22 and 2022/23 financial years.
Prosecutors argue that this was done without approval under the supplementary budget, directly breaching the Treasury Instructions of 2017 and exposing government to substantial financial loss.The matter came before Grade One Magistrate Paul Mujuni for a scheduled mention, but the proceedings could not continue after the Assistant Registrar failed to attend court. This unexpected absence forced the magistrate to adjourn the session, adding yet another delay to a case that has already dragged on for months.
Court later fixed April 15, 2026, as the new date for the next appearance. In the meantime, bail terms earlier granted to all the accused were extended, allowing them to remain free as they await further court action.All the accused persons have strongly denied the allegations and entered pleas of not guilty. They maintain that the payments in question were lawful and insist that they will be vindicated once the full trial begins.
The case remains partially stalled due to a constitutional petition filed by MP Paul Akamba, who claims his rights were violated during his arrest and prosecution. As the country watches closely, the matter continues to fuel debate about accountability, transparency, and the handling of compensation funds within government.