Constitutional Court decision delays ex-PS Ssali, MP Mawanda sh3.8b coop cash case

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The Anti-Corruption Court on Monday, July 1, adjourned to August 12, a case in which the former trade ministry permanent secretary, Geraldine Ssali and her co-accused are battling corruption charges related to a shillings 3.8 billion co-operative funding scheme.

Assistant Registrar Patrick Talisuna postponed the case, waiting for a constitutional court decision. In the Constitutional Court, Ssali’s co-accused Busiki County MP Paul Akamba is seeking dismissal of corruption charges against him over alleged human rights violations.

Others are lawyer Julius Kirya and MPs, Michael Mawanda Muranga (Igara East), Ignatius Wamakuyu Mudiimi (Elgon County) and Leonard Kavundira (the principal co-operative officer at the trade ministry).

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) was represented by senior state attorney Raymond Mugisa while the accused were represented by Evans Ochieng, Emmanuel Kigenyi, Mackline Musimenta and Joachim Kiwanuka. 

Mugisa told the court that the ODPP is yet to receive information regarding when the ruling will be delivered in the matter at the Constitutional Court.

Allegations

Prosecution alleges that Ssali, during the financial year 2021/2022, in abuse of her authority, irregularly introduced Buyaka Growers Co-operative Society among the co-operatives to be compensated for the war loss by the Government, which was not listed on the request for the supplementary budget dated August 4, 2021.

According to the prosecution, the arbitrary act is prejudicial to her employer (trade ministry).

It is further alleged that Ssali, during the financial year 2021/2022 and 2022/2023, made payments to Kirya and Company Advocates amounting to shillings 3.8 billion meant for Buyaka Growers Co-operative Society in contravention of the treasury instructions of 2017.

Prosecution added that she did this knowing or having reason to believe that such an act will cause financial loss to the Government.

It is alleged that Ssali, together with the five accused persons and others still at large, between 2019 and 2023, conspired to defraud the Government of shillings 3.4 billion, which was intended for war loss compensation meant for Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society.

Court documents indicate that during the liberation war of 1981 to 1986 and the insurgencies that prevailed in some parts of the country, some co-operatives operations and the assets were adversely affected, prompting the cooperative unions to seek compensation from the Government.