Court Issues Criminal Summons Against Ex PS Geraldine Ssali

The Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court has issued criminal summons against the former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade, Geraldine Ssali, after she failed to appear for her a 3.8 billion shillings fraud case.

The summons have been issued by the registrar of the court  Patrick Talisuna, after ascertaining that other co-accused  were present except Ssali and that no communication has been received explaining her absence.

The summons have been requested by Senior State Attorney Raymond Mugisa who had also noted that the prosecution is still waiting for guidance from the Constitutional Court on a pending human rights application that could affect the case.

The  pending application was filed by Busiki County MP Paul Akamba, who is seeking dismissal of the corruption charges, claiming his rights were violated during arrest and prosecution.

Registrar Talisuna has then adjourned the matter to February 5, 2026, extending bail for all accused persons except Ssali, for whom criminal summons were issued.

Ssali is jointly charged with MPs Michael Mawanda, Ignatius Mudimi Wamakuyu, and Paul Akamba, along with lawyer Julius Taitankoko Kirya and ministry of Trade  official Leonard Kavundira.

The group faces charges of  abuse of office, conspiracy to defraud, money laundering, and causing financial loss to government. They are accused of irregularly processing and paying Shs3.8 billion meant for compensation of the Buyaka Growers Co-operative Society.

The trial was earlier halted after Justice Jane Kajuga Akuo ruled that Akamba’s human rights application must be heard first and the Constitutional Court’s decision is expected to determine when the trial will resume.