The ongoing crackdown on the alleged misuse of the money meant for cooperatives has taken a twist with the latest information showing that the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance and Secretary to the Treasury Ramathan Ggoobi ordered the Ministry of Trade Permanent Secretary Geraldine Ssali to process payment of some cooperatives.
Ms Geraldine Ssali who was arrested and incarcerated in Luzira Prison was under pressure from the politicians and the Ps Ggoobi to process payment of some cooperatives.
According to these letters seen by Eagle Online, Goobi told Ms Ssali to process the payments of North Bukeddi Cooperative Union, South Bukedi Cooperative Union and West Acholi Cooperative Union Limited.
Some of these Cooperatives like South Bukedi received money when they were not verified. It’s not clear why Mr Ggoobi would tell or tell a Permanent Secretary to make such payments.
Ggoobi, who is the supervisor of other Permanent Secretaries, told Ssali in one of the letters dated January 13, 2023 told her to pay South Bukedi Cooperative Union Shs2 billion.
According to sources, it was irregular for Ggoobi to tell Ssali to pay the money because it’s supposed to be to her to initiate the process since the cooperatives are under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.
“The purpose of this letter is twofold; to forward this for further management and advise you to prioritize compensation of the verified Cooperatives Unions within the resources available to the ministry,” Goobi wrote.
Ggoobi’s letter came after South Bukedi Cooperative Union Chairman and Member of Parliament Tororo North County Geoffrey Ekenya requested for the payment.
According to the Parliamentary Committee on Trade report, South Bukedi received shs500m without verification.
MP Ekanya had earlier written to Ggoobi on January 2, 2023, saying that their cooperative had not received any money for compensation.
“The Union has a war debt of claim however, to this date, it has not received any payment whereas all cooperative unions have received part payment…” Ekanya wrote.
In another letter dated September 22, 2022, Ggoobi wrote Ssali telling her to process the payment of the West Acholi Cooperative Union.
In another letter dated August 1, 2022, Ggoobi wrote to Ssali telling her to handle and manage” the request by North Bukedi Cooperative Union.
“Given that your Ministry is responsible for Cooperatives’ registration, licensing and regulation in addition to compensation of claims due to them, it is recommended that the request from NBCU be forwarded to you for further management,” Ggoobi wrote.
Ssali has been temporarily replaced by Alex Kakooza at the Ministry of Trade for the work to continue as she waits for her bail application.
