The Ministry of Trade has sacked its Commissioner for Cooperatives Robert Barigye and replaced him with former strong FDC supporter Odo Tayebwa.
Robert Barigye has been accused of forming a parallel committee for verification which caused confusion in the ministry.
He has been replaced by former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) staunch supporter, Odo Tayebwa who last week crossed and joined the ruling party National Resistance Movement (NRM).
In 2023, Barigye was alleged for conniving with some of the leaders of cooperatives and law firms to swindle the money meant for the compensation of the cooperatives, which forced the President to ask ISO and SHACU to intervene and was arrested over this matter.
The ministry is struggling with corruption scandals of Shs164 billion meant for some selected cooperatives was shared by mainly politicians and a few connected individuals which led to the arrest of PS Geraldine Ssali, three Members of Parliament, Michael Mawanda, Ignatius Mudimi Wamakuyu of Elgon County and Busiki MP Paul Akamba
