KAMPALA — The Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court in Kampala has taken a dramatic turn after former Ministry of Trade Permanent Secretary Geraldine Ssali, alongside five co-accused—including three sitting Members of Parliament—took fresh pleas following an amended indictment in the Shs3.8 billion war loss compensation scandal.
Presiding over the pre-trial session, High Court Judge Jane Okuo Kajuga allowed the state to revise the charges against the accused persons, expanding the indictment to 12 counts. The group now faces severe charges ranging from diversion of public resources and causing financial loss to abuse of office, money laundering, receiving stolen property, and conspiracy to defraud.
The embattled former accounting officer took the dock alongside her co-accused: Igara East MP Michael Mawanda, Elgon County MP Ignatius Wamakuyu Mudiimi, Busiki County MP Paul Akamba, city lawyer Julius Kirya Taitankoko, and Leonard Kavundira, a principal cooperative officer in the Trade Ministry. All six accused persons pleaded not guilty to the revised counts.
Defense attorneys, led by senior counsel Caleb Alaka, vehemently objected to the prosecution’s amended charge sheet, arguing that key monetary figures—including a Shs1.2 billion sum on one of the counts—were not backed by initial summaries of evidence. However, Justice Kajuga dismissed the defense’s objections, noting that amending the indictment at this early pre-trial stage causes no prejudice to the accused and allows them ample time to prepare their defense before full trial commencement.
According to prosecution documents presented by Chief State Attorney Edward Muhumuza, Ssali allegedly abused her authority during the 2021/2022 financial year by arbitrarily inserting Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society Limited onto the list of beneficiaries slated for government war loss compensation, despite its exclusion from the official supplementary budget request.
State prosecutors further allege that between the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 financial years, Ssali irregularly authorized payouts totaling Shs3.8 billion to Kirya and Company Advocates—violating the Treasury Instructions of 2017. Prosecutors contend that the transactions were part of an elaborate scheme concocted between 2019 and 2023 to defraud the state of Shs3.4 billion intended to compensate cooperatives affected by the 1981–1986 liberation conflicts.
With the fresh pleas entered, Justice Kajuga has cautioned state prosecutors against ambushing the defense with unbacked evidence as the High Court prepares to kick off full trial proceedings.
Uganda Anti-Corruption Court Trial Updates
This court coverage video gives key visual details on the initial appearance and indictment of Geraldine Ssali and the co-accused MPs at the Anti-Corruption High Court.
The post Shs3.8bn Fraud: Former Trade PS Geraldine Ssali, Three MPs Take Fresh Plea over War Loss Compensation appeared first on Watchdog Uganda.