The Anti-Corruption Court has issued a criminal summons for former Trade Ministry Permanent Secretary Geraldine Ssali after she failed to appear for the mention of a Shs 3.8 billion fraud case in which she is jointly charged with three Members of Parliament (MPs) and other officials.
During Monday's court session, Acting Assistant Registrar Patrick Talisuna issued the summons following prosecution's report that Ssali was absent without any communication.
Senior State Attorney Raymond Mugisa informed the court that "the accused are present except for 'accused six (A6)'. We seek criminal summons for A6, and we await communication from the Constitutional Court regarding the human rights application filed, which has an impact on this case."
The case had been scheduled for mention as the parties await a ruling from the Constitutional Court on an application filed by Busiki County MP Paul Akamba, who seeks dismissal of the charges, claiming his human rights were violated during arrest and prosecution.
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Ssali's lawyer did not provide an explanation for her absence, though her surety, identified as Kiwanuka, was present in court. Meanwhile, lawyer Sydney Odong, representing MP Akamba, requested that the court set a new mention date after the upcoming general elections, citing ongoing developments.
Registrar Talisuna adjourned the matter to February 5, 2026, extending bail for all accused persons except Ssali.
"Bail for the accused persons is extended. Criminal summons are issued for A6," he said.
The accused include MPs Michael Mawanda, Ignatius Mudimi Wamakuyu, and Paul Akamba, alongside lawyer Julius Taitankoko Kirya and Principal Cooperative Officer Leonard Kavundira. They face charges of abuse of office, conspiracy to defraud, money laundering, and causing financial loss in relation to compensation funds meant for Buyaka Growers Co-operative Society.
According to prosecution, during the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 financial years, Ssali irregularly added Buyaka Growers Co-operative Society to the list of groups eligible for war-loss compensation, despite the group not appearing in the approved supplementary budget.
She is alleged to have authorized irregular payments totaling Shs 3.8 billion to Kirya and Company Advocates, a law firm owned by co-accused lawyer Taitankoko, purportedly to compensate war-loss claimants.
The state contends that these payments violated the 2017 Treasury Instructions and caused financial loss to the government. The MPs are alleged to have conspired with Ssali and other officials to divert the funds.
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In October, trial judge Justice Jane Kajuga Akuo halted proceedings, ruling that the court must first determine MP Akamba's human rights application against the Attorney General before proceeding.
"The law is clear. The trial judge is required to determine the application before proceeding," Kajuga said.
With the latest adjournment, the case is set to return to court on February 5, 2026, pending guidance from the Constitutional Court.
