Kampala, (UG):- The embattled Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Ms Geraldine Busuulwa Ssali who once commanded a prominent position and role at the ministry has seen a dramatic fall from grace as she faces the consequences of corruption allegations.
Ssali, whose removal from the role of accounting officer came days before her arrest, marks the second time she has been dismissed from this key role. The embattled PS had in June 2023 first stripped of her position as accounting officer amidst accusations of mismanaging government funds.
A parliamentary committee revealed that funds intended for a supplementary budget during the 2021-2022 financial year had been diverted.
Allegations surfaced of Ssali authorizing payments, including the procurement of five old vehicles valued at a staggering UGX 2 billion for ministry officials, sparking widespread concerns over her integrity and management practices.
Despite this, Ssali was reinstated to the position after a brief hiatus, maintaining her title and responsibilities as Permanent Secretary.
However, the situation took a sudden turn in October 2023 when Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury, Hon. Ramathan Ggoobi, issued a directive to the Minister of Finance to remove Ssali once again from her role as accounting officer.
In a letter dated October 3, Ggoobi cited the Public Finance Management Act of 2015 and recommended her removal pending further investigation into the alleged corruption activities under her watch. His letter emphasized the need for a new accounting officer, severing Ssali’s authority to approve any payments or transactions.
Despite being relieved of her accounting responsibilities, Ssali continued to serve as the Permanent Secretary.
Her peers in the public service had their contracts renewed during this period, a stark contrast to Ssali’s increasingly tenuous position. Her removal as accounting officer seemed to be the prelude to the unravelling of her career.
Within days, Ssali found herself arrested and charged with abuse of office, conspiracy to defraud, and causing government financial loss, among other charges. She was remanded to Luzira prison, where she remained for over a month as investigations continued.
Her arrest not only sealed her fate but also served as a strong message from the government on tackling corruption within its ranks.
In a final blow to her career, President Yoweri Museveni ultimately decided to sack Ssali as Permanent Secretary altogether, putting an end to her turbulent tenure.
What had begun as allegations of corruption soon snowballed into a public spectacle, marking the end of Ssali’s service in public office.
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