Trade Ministry PS Geraldine Ssali Sacked Amid Corruption Charges

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has appointed Alex Kakooza as the Trade, Industries, and Cooperatives Ministry Permanent Secretary, replacing the embattled Geraldine Ssali.

Ssali’s sacking comes as she’s on remand in Luzira Prison over corruption-related charges. On July 18, she was charged with money laundering, causing the government financial loss of significant billions of shillings. Similarly, she was charged with abuse of office in the infamous compensation of cooperatives affected by the wars.

The President’s move comes barely a year after he reinstated Ms. Ssali to her position. This was after she was sacked by then Trade Minister Francis Mwebesa. Ssali’s 2023 sacking was a recommendation by Treasury Secretary Ramathan Ggoobi. Alfred Andima had been appointed to replace her, but this didn’t pass.

Mr. Kakooza is no stranger to top positions, having served as PS at the Ministry of Education. He joins the Trade Ministry from the Office of the Vice-President, where he was serving as Her Excellency Jessica Alupo’s principal private secretary.

Ms. Ssali is on remand with MPs Micheal Mawanda, Ignatius Wamakuyu Mudimi, and Paul Akamba. Mawanda represents Igara East, while Mudimi represents Elgon County. Paul Akamba of Busiki County is also facing another charge of soliciting a bribe. The other two co-accused are lawyer Julius Kirya Taitankonko and Leonard Kavundira, the principal co-operative officer at the Trade Ministry.

Ssali Geraldine’s woes

Prosecution alleges that Ms. Ssali, during the financial year 2021/2022 and 2022/2023, introduced Buyaka Growers Co-operative Society among those to be compensated by the government for the war loss, yet it had not been listed for a supplementary budget of August 2021.

Ssali made unauthorized payments totaling Shs3.868 billion to Kirya and Company Advocates, a firm owned by co-suspect Julius Kirya Taitankonko, purportedly to compensate war victims. This was done despite knowing it violated 2017 Treasury instructions and would lead to financial losses for the government.