By Frank Kamuntu
Trade Ministry Permanent Secretary Geraldine Ssali has been arrested and transferred to the Anti-Corruption Court. She was charged with causing financial loss and conspiring with Members of Parliament to conspire to steal cooperatives’ cash.
Ssali appeared late before the Anti-Corruption Court in Kampala as the Prosecutors amended the charge sheet to make her the sixth accused person on the case file. She was taken back to the CID headquarters to record an additional statement.
The others are Igara East MP, Michael Mawanda, Elgon County MP, Mudimi Wamakuyu, and their Busiki County counterpart, Paul Akamba.
The group is jointly charged with Leonard Kavundira, the Principal Cooperative Officer in the Ministry of Trade, and City lawyer, Julius Kirya Taitankoko.
There was a heated exchange in the Court presided over by Chief Magistrate Joan Aciro. The exchange between the defense and the prosecution sides was on whether a charge sheet could be amended after the investigation was completed.
The matter had returned to court for further hearing of the bail application. The Prosecution was expected to make a response to the bail application.
However, the Chief State Attorneys Edward Muhumuza and Adrine Asiimwe informed the Court that inquiries were complete and that they had an amended charge sheet.
In their amended charge sheet, the Prosecution slapped all the MPs with an additional charge of receiving stolen property and the Lawyer Julius Kirya Taitankonko. It added two counts including the charge of stealing by agent and money Laundering. Kavundira was added to the charge of abuse of the office.
Source: URN.Â
