Geraldine Ssali, the estranged Ministry of Trade and Co-operative Permanent Secretary has been dragged to police by a senior lawyer in the same ministry after she reported slapped her.
Ssali who is not new to controversy has been dragged together with her bodyguard. The incident took place on Friday evening at the Ministry headquarters and has since been reported at Central Police Station.
Sandra Aneno, the senior lawyer is said to have been assaulted confirmed the incident to the New Vision saying “I reported the matter on fiday evening and I was given medical forms to go the police doctor for examination. I have also been to my doctor at Bugolobi for a scan. My back was paining and I couldn’t bend and they did some physiotherapy on it. They gave me some medicine “she is quoted.
After assaulting Ms Aneno, Ssali on the same day went ahead to draft an interdiction letter suspending her from duty.
“As you are well aware, this afternoon in the execution of my normal duties as a Permanent Secretary and Accounting Officer and while issuing you with instructions, you exhibited grass unbecoming behavior such as abusive language against me, assaulting, threatening me, throwing items at me and insubordination which is irregular for a public officer of your caliber. Your actions were in total disregard of the provisions of the Uganda Public Service Standing Orders 2021 section F-r Para-1. As laid out in section F-r Para in 4 and 5 (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (i), (k), (t) and 7 (a) those actions constitute to gross misconduct” Ssali wrote.
She further continued “You are hence forth interdicted from duty with immediate effect in accordance with sec-F-S para 14 of the Uganda Public Service Standing Order 2021. While on interdiction you will;
- Receive half of your basic salary for the period under interdiction
- You shall not leave the country without express permission from the responsible officer
- Handover your office and you will not appear in the office premises except if required on matters relating to the case of which you have been interdicted for. In the same reference, you are required to show cause why institutions of disciplinary actions should not be taken against you, this should reach my office with seven working days in any case not later than April 16, 2024”
Ms Ssali is not new to bad working ethics as this incident isn’t the first, she first hit the scene who she clashed with her boss then Mr Richard Byarugaba at National Social Security Fund (NSSF). Lately reports allege that she has been on bad terms with ministers at the Ministry of Trade. Her husband has also been mentioned to have received compensation money meant for co-oporatives.
In October last, she was dropped by the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the treasury Ramathan Ggoobi after a report by Parliament trade committee endorsed her suspension over fraud and irregularities that were committed at the ministry on her watch.
