The Anti-Corruption Court has granted Trade Ministry Permanent Secretary, Geraldine Ssali a cash bail of Shs35 million with Shs50 million non-cash bail for the sureties, along with other restrictions.
Ms ssali has been battling with allegations of causing financial loss and colluding with Members of Parliament to embezzle cooperative societies’ funds.
Ms Ssali was accused of introducing Buyaka Cooperative yet according to documents from the Ministry of Trade Buyaka was introduced and verified before she entered office in 2021.
According to documents seen by Eagle Online from the Ministry of Trade, Buyaka cooperative was verified by the Internal Auditor General on September 17, 2020.
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.
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 of 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.”
After her arrest, the Masaka Catholic Diocese threatened to return Shs2.7 billion which the government paid to revive its cooperative Bwavumpologoma Grower Cooperative Union Limited, the leaders citing that the Diocese will not stand the continued tainting of its image yet there was nothing wrong with the procurement.
Last Sunday, the Masaka Catholic Diocese held prayers for Geraldine Ssali to relieve her from the curse of corruption allegations of causing financial loss.
The Diocese is planning to hold a bigger mass in her presence very soon since she is out of prison.
The issues at the Ministry of Trade in the Permanent Secretary seat seem to be a war of who will take over as the top officials are fighting Ssali. While on remand in Luzira Prison, two people were appointed to replace Ssali however, they were all sent off indicating she is clean and fit for her job no matter the fights.
