The former permanent secretary of Uganda’s trade ministry, Geraldine Ssali, was on Friday granted bail in connection to the shs3.4 billion meant for Buyaka Growers Co-operative Society Limited.
Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga released Ssali and her co accused, Leonard Kavundira, the principal co-operative officer after they presented substantial sureties.
They each paid a cash bail of sh35 million, with their sureties required to execute a non-cash bond of sh50 million each.
Ssali is facing the charges alongside Busiki county MP Paul Kamba, Igara East MP Michael Mawanda, and Elgon county MP Mudimi Ignatius Wamakuyu.
Prosecution’s case
Prosecution alleges that in October 2021, Mawanda converted public funds amounting to sh1 billion for purposes unrelated to those for which the resources were intended — such war loss compensation by the Government to Buyaka Growers’ Co-operative Society — allegedly for his benefits.
Prosecution also alleges that Kirya in October 2021 and June 2023 converted sh2.3 billion public funds for purposes unrelated to war loss compensation by the Government to Buyaka Growers’ Co-operative Society Ltd for himself.
The prosecution alleges that in May May and June 2023, he allegedly converted public funds to the tune of sh200 million for not related to war loss compensation by the government to Buyaka Growers Co- operatives Society Limited for his benefit.
According to the prosecution, in October 2021 and June 2023 Kirya allegedly transferred public funds amounting to sh2.2 billion not related to the compensation of Buyaka Growers Co-operatives Society.
Additionally, prosecution alleges that Mawanda, Wamakuyu, Akamba, Kirya and Kivundira conspired between 2019 and 2023 to defraud the government of sh3.4 billion, which was meant for Buyaka Growers Co- operatives Society Limited as compensation for losses incurred during the liberation war of 1978 -79 and 1980-86 guerrilla war.
