In a surprising turn of events, Geraldine Ssali, the embattled Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Trade, is set to reclaim her position, following a directive from the Head of Public Service and Secretary to Treasury, Lucy Mbonye Nakyobe. The order is reportedly based on a directive from President Yoweri Museveni, dated October 22, 2023.
Ssali had been removed from her office a few weeks ago and replaced by the Ministry's Under Secretary, Oyo Andima, following orders from the Secretary to the Treasury, Ramathan Ggoobi. Ggoobi's decision to replace Ssali was rooted in allegations of mismanagement within the Ministry of Trade.
"Parliament carried out an investigation into the activities of the Ministry of Trade and made recommendations, among others, that this ministry should ensure going forward, accountability is guaranteed. I, therefore, went ahead with guidance from my technical people to kick start the process of implementing the recommendation of Parliament, and it is what we did." Ggoobi explained while Speaking on the matter.
The controversy surrounding Ssali's removal began in August when Parliament recommended her dismissal, citing her failure to control the irregular and improper use of money allocated for the procurement of renovation works on offices used by the Ministry of Trade at Farmer's House. The Parliamentary Trade Committee specifically accused Geraldine Ssali of inflating the price of renovation works by Shs2 billion, leading to increased scrutiny and a subsequent decision to relieve her of her duties as Permanent Secretary.
The unexpected directive to reinstate Ssali raises questions about the ongoing investigations and the status of the allegations against her. It is unclear at this point whether the reappointment of Ssali will have any impact on the broader efforts to ensure accountability and transparency within the Ministry of Trade.
As this developing story unfolds, many will be watching to see how the Ministry of Trade and the government address the concerns raised regarding the management of public funds and the ongoing battle for control of this key government institution.
