Court issues criminal summons for ex-Trade PS Ssali in Shs3.8bn fraud case

The Anti-Corruption Court has issued a criminal summons for former Trade Ministry Permanent Secretary Geraldine Ssali after she failed to appear for the mention of a Shs3.8 billion fraud case in which she is jointly charged with three Members of Parliament and other officials.

During Monday’s session, acting Assistant Registrar Patrick Talisuna issued the summons after prosecution informed the court that Ms Ssali was absent without any communication.

Senior State Attorney Raymond Mugisa informed court that all the accused persons were present except Ssali, prompting the state to request a criminal summons as they await communication from the Constitutional Court on a pending human rights application that affects the case.

The matter had been scheduled for mention as the parties await a ruling on the application filed by Busiki County MP Paul Akamba, who wants the charges dismissed on grounds that his rights were violated during his arrest and prosecution.

Counsel holding brief for Ssali’s lawyer told court that her surety, Kiwanuka, was present but offered no explanation for her absence.

During the session, lawyer Sydney Odong, representing MP Akamba, asked court to set the next mention date after the general elections “owing to what is going on.”

Registrar Talisuna subsequently adjourned the matter to February 5, 2026, extending bail for all accused persons except Ssali, and ordering that criminal summons be issued for her appearance.

Ssali is jointly charged with MPs Michael Mawanda, Ignatius Mudimi Wamakuyu, and Paul Akamba, alongside lawyer Julius Taitankoko Kirya and principal cooperative officer Leonard Kavundira.

The group faces charges including abuse of office, conspiracy to defraud, money laundering, and causing financial loss linked to compensation funds meant for Buyaka Growers Co-operative Society.

Prosecution alleges that during the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 financial years, Ssali irregularly added the cooperative society to the list of groups eligible for war-loss compensation despite it not appearing in the approved supplementary budget. She is further accused of authorising irregular payments amounting to Shs3.8 billion to Kirya and Company Advocates, a law firm owned by co-accused Taitankoko, under the guise of compensating war-loss claimants.

The state contends these actions violated the 2017 Treasury Instructions and caused financial loss, with the MPs alleged to have conspired with Ssali and other officials in diverting the funds.

The trial had earlier stalled in October after trial judge Justice Jane Kajuga Akuo ruled that the court must first determine MP Akamba’s human rights application against the Attorney General before proceedings can continue.

With the latest adjournment, the case returns to court on February 5, 2026, pending guidance from the Constitutional Court.