The office of the head of Public Service has intervened in the matter in which the trade ministry permanent secretary (PS) Geraldine Ssali is accused of assaulting the entity’s legal officer, Sandra Aneeno.
The PS head, Lucky Nakyobe has directed her deputy Deborah Katuramu to meet the two parties to understand what exactly happened. Last week, Katuramu met Ssali first and then later Aneno at the President’s Office.
Katuramu yesterday confirmed that she spoke to both parties on Friday, but declined to reveal the details of what they discussed.
Aneno also confirmed the meeting, noting, “They were basically asking for my side of the story and clarifying what she had earlier said about me.”
Nakyobe directed Katuramu to meet the two parties and get their story just in case the matter came up in Cabinet.
The meeting comes in the wake of a letter by the trade minister Francis Mwebesa, who asked Nakyobe to take action against Ssali over what he referred to as ‘misconduct’.
In a letter dated April 9, 2024, addressed to the Head of Public Service, Lucy Nakyobe, Mwebesa implored her to take action against the errant accounting officer who unnecessarily involves herself in everyone’s affairs at the ministry, neglecting her primary duties as the PS.
“I regret to inform you that due to the unprofessional conduct of the Ministry’s affairs by the Permanent Secretary, Ms. Geraldine Ssali, she has created a highly toxic working environment that has significantly hampered the performance of staff at the Ministry,” expressed Mwebesa.
Mwebesa also informed Nakyobe that Ssali “has not exhibited prudence in her actions as an Accounting Officer.”
On April 5, Grealdine Ssali and her bodyguard allegedly assaulted Sandra Aneno. Ssali was then dragged to Kampala Central Police Station for her misconduct.
Since then investigations have been ongoing and several eyewitnesses have recorded statements.
