The Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court has put on hold the corruption trial involving former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives (MTIC), Geraldine Ssali Busuulwa, and her co-accused until July 30 as it awaits a ruling from the Constitutional Court.

Ssali and Edgar Kavundira, the Principal Cooperative Officer in MTIC, are among several individuals facing corruption-related charges arising from the alleged mismanagement of Shs3.8 billion earmarked for compensation to Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society Ltd in Bulambuli District.

The two appeared before Justice Jane Akuo Kajuga on Friday for the mention of their case. However, the judge halted further proceedings pending the Constitutional Court’s determination of a petition filed by Busiki County Member of Parliament (MP) Paul Akamba, one of the accused persons in the case.

Akamba is challenging the legality of his trial, arguing that he was subjected to torture by security operatives during his arrest. He is seeking to have the charges against him dismissed on those grounds.

Other accused persons in the case include lawyer Julius Kirya of Kirya & Co Advocates, Igara East MP Michael Mawanda, and Elgon County MP Ignatius Wamakuyu Mudimi.

Ssali and Kavundira are additionally charged with abuse of office and causing financial loss to the government. The legislators face charges related to receiving stolen property and the diversion of public resources, while Kirya is accused of stealing by agent and money laundering.

According to court records, Mawanda allegedly received Shs1 billion in 2021, which prosecutors claim he used to pay creditors of Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society. He is further accused of receiving an additional Shs200 million to settle a debt arising from Commercial Division High Court Civil Case No. 28 of 2020.

The prosecution alleges that during the 2021/22 financial year, Ssali abused her authority by irregularly including Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society among the cooperatives earmarked for government war-loss compensation, despite the cooperative not appearing in the supplementary budget request dated August 4, 2021.

Prosecutors contend that the decision was arbitrary and prejudicial to the interests of her employer, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.

The State further alleges that during the 2021/22 and 2022/23 financial years, Ssali authorised payments totalling Shs3.8 billion to Kirya & Co Advocates on behalf of Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society in contravention of the Treasury Instructions, 2017.

According to the prosecution, Ssali knew, or had reason to believe, that her actions would result in financial loss to the government.

The prosecution also alleges that between 2019 and 2023, Ssali, together with the other accused persons and others still at large, conspired to defraud the Government of Uganda of Shs3.4 billion intended as war-loss compensation for Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society.

Kavundira, meanwhile, is accused of influencing and coercing the chairperson of Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society to terminate its working relationship with its duly appointed legal representatives, Anguria & Co Advocates, in favour of Kirya & Co Advocates for purposes of pursuing the compensation claim before the ministry.

Prosecutors further contend that Kavundira, who served on the ministry’s verification committee, had prior knowledge of the compensation claim and the amounts due to Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society. The prosecution also alleges that the verification committee was a separate body irregularly established by Ssali.

In the 2016/17 financial year, the government established an inter-ministerial committee led by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives to verify compensation claims by cooperative societies for assets and property destroyed during past wars and political insurgencies.

Before the committee’s establishment, such claims were handled by the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, which paid a total of Shs6.97 billion to various cooperative societies and unions.

Between the 2016/17 and 2022/23 financial years, compensation payments amounting to Shs137.86 billion were processed through the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.

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Newly vetted Attorney General Sam Mayanja has dismissed suggestions that his transition from the Ministry of Lands represents a major shift in focus, insisting that his new office is a natural extension of the work he has been carrying out in government.

Speaking shortly after his vetting, Mayanja explained that while his previous role as State Minister for Lands was largely centered on enforcing land laws and government directives, his new position as Attorney General broadens that responsibility to cover the entire machinery of government.

According to Mayanja, the common thread between the two offices is ensuring that the law is respected and implemented by the institutions mandated to enforce it.

“Law and regulation, the Constitution and presidential directives which have the force of law. So where I’ve gone is an extension of what I’ve been doing, ensuring that law is implemented and that the implementing organs are allowed to do their work,” he said.

He added that there is no contradiction between his previous work in the land sector and his new responsibilities as the government’s chief legal adviser.

“There’s no contradiction between what I’ve been doing in the land field and what is in the Attorney General’s chambers. Only that this one is wider, covers the entire spectrum of government, whereas the other one was restricted to land matters,” Mayanja explained.

The veteran lawyer, who became known for his outspoken interventions on land governance, property rights and enforcement of presidential directives, said many of the challenges affecting the land sector do not necessarily require new legislation but rather effective implementation of existing laws.

Asked about gaps he identified during his tenure at the Ministry of Lands, Mayanja was quick to clarify that he did not view them as institutional failures.

“I wouldn’t say they are gaps. You can’t do everything,” he said.

He pointed to persistent issues such as land titling, cases of double titling, the functioning of district land boards and disputes surrounding land ownership, noting that many of these challenges can be addressed through improved compliance with existing legal frameworks.

“These are issues which can be done so fast without having to come to Parliament. It is just to awaken people to their status and what they need to do. That doesn’t need really much. It just needs to tell people to do their work,” he said.

Mayanja also drew a clear distinction between the role he played as Lands minister and the responsibilities he now assumes as Attorney General.

He explained that while serving in the Lands ministry, his duty was to enforce and communicate the law as enacted, rather than interpret it.

“As Minister of Lands, I was not interpreting the law. The interpretation is for the Attorney General. I was telling the law as it is. This is the law. This is the Constitution. This is the Land Act. This is the presidential directive,” he said.

Mayanja revealed that his research had convinced him that presidential directives carry the force of law and should therefore be implemented by public officials.

However, he noted that disputes over whether the implementation of a law or directive is consistent with the Constitution fall squarely within the Attorney General’s mandate.

“If somebody feels that the law as you’re implementing it is going outside the Constitution, then that will require interpretation, and then it goes to the Attorney General. So you will find me there. As for now, the law as it is must be applied,” he stated.

His remarks signal a continuation of the firm legal approach that characterized his tenure at the Ministry of Lands, where he frequently pushed for strict enforcement of existing laws and directives in efforts to resolve long-standing land disputes.

As Attorney General, Mayanja is expected to play a central role in advising government on constitutional matters, representing the state in key legal disputes and ensuring that public institutions operate within the framework of the law.

The newly vetted Attorney General says his priority will remain the same: ensuring that laws, regulations and constitutional provisions are implemented effectively across government, while providing authoritative legal interpretation whenever disputes arise.

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The remains of legendary Kadongo Kamu singer Prince Paul Kafeero were on Monday exhumed for DNA sampling in a major development aimed at resolving a long-running paternity dispute that has divided his family for nearly two decades.

The exercise, carried out under a court order and supervised by forensic experts from the Uganda Police Force, is expected to pave the way for conclusive scientific findings regarding more than 20 individuals who have over the years claimed to be biological children of the late musician.

The development was announced by outgoing State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs Balaam Barugahara, who described the exhumation as a significant step towards uncovering the truth and restoring harmony within the family.

“As I prepare to hand over the Youth and Children Affairs docket soon, I wish to inform the public that the long-standing paternity dispute involving over 20 young people allegedly fathered by my friend, the late Prince Paul Kafeero, will soon be resolved,”Balaam said.

“Following the successful exhumation of his remains this morning for DNA sampling, a process that has remained unresolved for over 20 years is finally underway. The family has been engaged in a prolonged dispute over this matter, and today marks a major step toward establishing the truth,”he added.

The exhumation was conducted by a team of pathologists led by Assistant Inspector General of Police Dr. Moses Byaruhanga, one of the country’s leading forensic experts, who has previously been involved in discussions surrounding the sensitive matter.

According to Balaam, the exercise was conducted professionally and in line with established forensic procedures.

“The exhumation and sample collection exercise was professionally conducted by a team of pathologists led by Assistant Inspector General of Police Dr. Byaruhanga, in accordance with the court order and established forensic procedures,” he said.

The collected samples will now be subjected to scientific analysis by the Government Analytical Laboratory and the Uganda Police Forensic Laboratory, institutions expected to provide definitive DNA results capable of settling the dispute once and for all.

“The Government Analytical Laboratory and the state-of-the-art Uganda Police Forensic Laboratory will now conduct the necessary scientific analysis to provide conclusive facts based on DNA evidence,” Balaam noted.

The controversy surrounding Kafeero’s children has persisted since the singer’s death in 2007. Shortly after his burial, several women emerged claiming that the celebrated musician had fathered their children. Over the years, the number of claimants continued to grow, sparking disagreements over inheritance, family recognition and administration of the late singer’s estate.

Previous attempts to settle the matter through DNA testing generated fresh disputes after some claimants questioned the credibility of earlier results. Court battles, family meetings and mediation efforts failed to produce a universally accepted conclusion, leaving the matter unresolved for years.

The issue has repeatedly attracted public attention, with some family members pushing for exhumation while others opposed disturbing the late musician’s grave on cultural and moral grounds. Prominent voices, including leaders within Buganda Kingdom, previously expressed reservations about the idea, arguing that the deceased should be left to rest in peace.

However, supporters of the exercise maintained that extracting DNA directly from Kafeero’s remains would provide the most reliable evidence and bring closure to one of Uganda’s most publicised family disputes.

Balaam, who has in recent months been actively involved in efforts to find a lasting solution, said the process was motivated by a desire for justice and family unity rather than conflict.

“I wish to thank the Court, the family members, Assistant Inspector General of Police Dr. Byaruhanga and his team, and the Uganda Police Force for making this important process possible. I am also grateful to have fully facilitated this exercise in the interest of justice, truth and family harmony,”he said.

The minister expressed optimism that the scientific findings will finally end years of uncertainty and allow the family to move forward.

His statement concluded with a biblical message often associated with the pursuit of truth.

“There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known,” Balaam quoted from Luke 12:2.

For many of Kafeero’s relatives, supporters and admirers, the awaited DNA results could finally bring closure to a dispute that has overshadowed parts of the legendary singer’s legacy for nearly 20 years.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest Kadongo Kamu musicians Uganda has ever produced, Kafeero remains celebrated for his influential music and enduring contribution to the country’s cultural heritage. 

Yet even years after his death, questions surrounding his estate and paternity claims have continued to generate public interest, making the latest forensic exercise one of the most significant developments in the family’s long-running search for answers.

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KAMPALA | Sunday, May 31, 2026-The Ugandan government has announced that it will stop allocating public funds for the organisation of national holiday celebrations, including Women’s Day, Labour Day, and Independence Day, starting in the 2026/27 financial year.
The announcement was made on Sunday by the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury, Dr. Ramathan Ggoobi, who said the decision is part of ongoing fiscal consolidation efforts aimed at reducing government expenditure on non-essential activities.
Dr. Ramathan Ggoobi noted that government spending will increasingly be directed toward priority sectors such as health, education, and infrastructure, as authorities seek to manage a tightening budget environment.
For years, Uganda has fully financed national celebrations marking key public holidays, with events typically featuring official state ceremonies, parades, cultural performances, and coordinated activities across different regions of the country.
These commemorations—especially Independence Day, Labour Day, and International Women’s Day—have also required substantial spending on logistics, security arrangements, staging infrastructure, and nationwide mobilisation.
Under the new policy direction, the government expects future celebrations to be funded through alternative arrangements, including private sector sponsorships and partnerships with development actors. However, officials have yet to issue detailed operational guidelines for how the transition will be implemented.
The decision is expected to trigger national debate over the balance between fiscal discipline and the symbolic importance of state-sponsored celebrations in promoting unity and national identity.
Further details are expected to be provided in upcoming budget framework papers ahead of implementation in the 2026/27 financial year.

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