The Masaka Catholic Diocese has threatened to return shs2.7 billion which the government paid to revive its cooperative Bwavumpologoma Grower Cooperative Union Limited.
According to sources, the diocese says they would rather source funding from the Vatican to revive the Cooperative instead of having its name tarnished over allegations that the Cooperative was irregularly given the money by Ms Ssali.
The government through the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives paid Shs2.75 billion in the Financial Year 2021/2022 leaving the balance of Shs6.2 billion to complete the payment to revive the cooperative.
In one of the letters seen by Eagle Online dated October 24, 2023, written to the Undersecretary Ministry of Finance and Economic Development by Msgr Dominic Sengooba acknowledges receiving all the disbursed money in the first installment.
“Firstly, we still gratefully acknowledge the initial payment settlement you made to us amounting to Shs2,744,520,000,” he said.
Later, there were claims that the husband of Ps Ssali, Victor Busuulwa under whose docket cooperatives in Uganda falls was hired by the cooperatives to procure equipment which the Members of Parliament said was a conflict of interest which Ms Ssali had denied.
After the arrest of Ms Ssali on Thursday, the Diocese now says it will not stand the continued tainting of its image yet there was nothing wrong with the procurement.
The earlier complaints against Ms Ssali were in connection with Bwavu Mpologoma but a dramatic turn of events she is now facing charges of causing financial loss and abuse of office for allowing payment of Shs3.8 billion to Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society Limited.
Unlike Buyaka which received only Shs500 million out Shs3.8 billion, Bwavu Mpologoma received all the money and there are no complaints from its members.
“Bwavvu (Bwavu Mpologoma) has never complained to the government that it never received its money. That’s the point of irony,” the source said. “The business of saying Busuluwa got money from or for Bwavvu is fake. Busulwa had dealings with individuals hired by Bwavvu to buy coffee equipment. That’s how Mr Busuluwa gets involved. Bwavvu got its money and started looking for suppliers.”
There are also reports that Ssali could be a victim of internal fights within the government involving politicians who have been pushing business deals in the ministry.
