The trial in a corruption case involving former Trade Ministry Permanent Secretary Geraldine Ssali and co-accused before the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court has been further adjourned due to the absence of the prosecution team.
Trial judge Jane Okuo Kajuga on Friday adjourned the matter to June 29, 2026, after state prosecutors failed to appear in court because they were attending a national prosecution symposium.
The three-day symposium, held under the theme “Enhancing Professionalism for Responsive Prosecution Services”, ended on Friday and brought together prosecutors from across the country.
The case is also awaiting guidance from the Constitutional Court on a petition filed by one of the accused persons.
At the centre of the constitutional challenge is former Busiki County MP Paul Akamba, who is contesting the legality of his prosecution.
Akamba alleges that he was tortured by security personnel during his arrest and argues that his fundamental human rights were violated. He is seeking dismissal of the charges on those grounds.
Ms Ssali is jointly charged with Igara East MP Michael Mawanda Muranga, Elgon County MP Ignatius Wamakuyu Mudiimi, lawyer Julius Taitankoko Kirya, and principal cooperative officer Leonard Kavundira.
The accused persons face charges of abuse of office, conspiracy to defraud, causing financial loss, and money laundering in connection with Shs3.8 billion meant for Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society Limited.
According to the prosecution, Ms Ssali abused her authority during the 2021/2022 financial year by irregularly introducing Buyaka Growers Cooperative Society onto a list of entities eligible for government compensation for war losses despite the cooperative not appearing in the approved supplementary budget request dated August 4, 2021.
The state further alleges that in the financial years 2021/2022 and 2022/2023, Ms Ssali authorised payments amounting to Shs3.8 billion to Kirya and Company Advocates in contravention of the 2017 Treasury Instructions.
Prosecution contends that the accused persons knew or ought to have known that their actions would occasion financial loss to the government.
Court documents further indicate that between 2019 and 2023, the accused persons allegedly conspired to defraud the government of Shs3.4 billion earmarked for compensating cooperatives affected during the 1981-1986 liberation war and subsequent insurgencies.
The case has repeatedly faced procedural interruptions.
Earlier proceedings had been adjourned following the absence of the Assistant Registrar, while on another occasion, defence lawyers successfully applied for an extension of bail after the prosecution failed to appear.