Former Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Ms Geraldine Ssali Busuulwa, could see a turnaround in her ongoing legal troubles following reports that President Yoweri Museveni has directed intelligence agencies to look into her case.
According to sources, the President has tasked trusted security operatives to follow up on allegations surrounding a major corruption saga in which Ssali is implicated, amid claims that she may have been unfairly targeted.
Ssali is currently facing accountability-related charges before court. However, reports from some quarters suggest that the charges could be politically influenced, with claims that she may have fallen out with powerful individuals over her handling of sensitive matters within the ministry.
She served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives from July 2021 to July 2024, having been appointed by the President. Prior to that, she served as Deputy Managing Director at the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) from 2011 to 2017, among other leadership roles.
The case against her is linked to the alleged mismanagement of over Shs160 billion meant for compensation under the Farmers House and cooperatives programme. She remains before court as investigations and proceedings continue.
Sources allege that several senior political figures have been involved in disputes related to the matter, although these claims remain unverified.
It is further alleged that some actors are mobilising cooperatives to provide testimony in the case, although this has reportedly faced challenges.
Meanwhile, there are also accusations that some parliamentary processes related to the matter may not have fully incorporated the views of all stakeholders. However, these claims have not been independently confirmed.
The situation continues to unfold as more details emerge.
