Former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Geraldine Ssali, on Wednesday returned to the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala in connection with the alleged Shs3.8 billion fraud case, but proceedings were once again adjourned.
Ssali appeared before Grade One Magistrate Paul Mujuni, alongside her co-accused, for a scheduled mention of the case.
However, the court was unable to proceed after the Assistant Registrar failed to turn up, forcing the magistrate to adjourn the matter to April 15, 2026. Court also extended bail for all the accused.
The former trade ministry accounting officer is jointly charged with Members of Parliament Michael Mawanda, Ignatius Mudimi Wamakuyu, and Paul Akamba, lawyer Julius Taitankoko Kirya, and Leonard Kavundira, a Principal Cooperative Officer.
The accused face charges including abuse of office, causing financial loss, conspiracy to defraud, and money laundering.
According to the prosecution, Ssali is accused of irregularly authorising payments totaling Shs3.8 billion to Kirya and Company Advocates, purportedly as compensation for war losses. The payments allegedly arose from the controversial inclusion of Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society on a list of beneficiaries, despite the cooperative not being provided for in the approved supplementary budget for the 2021/22 and 2022/23 financial years.
Prosecutors contend that the transactions violated Treasury Instructions of 2017, resulting in financial loss to the government.
The case has previously stalled following a constitutional application filed by MP Paul Akamba, who claims his rights were violated during his arrest and prosecution.
The trial is expected to resume fully after the Constitutional Court pronounces itself on the matter.
The accused have all denied the charges and maintain their innocence as the high-profile corruption case drags on in court.
