In a letter dated 26th October 2023, Lucy Nakyobe Mbonye, the Head of Public Service and Secretary to Cabinet, wrote to the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury of Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Ramathan Ggoobi instructing him to reinstate Geraldine Ssali Busulwa as the Accounting Officer of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.

“Reference is made to H.E. the President’s letter Ref: PO/1 dated 22nd October, 2023 concerning the above-mentioned Permanent Secretary (Cope hereto attached for ease of reference).

“This is to request you to immediately reinstate Ms. Geraldine Ssali Busuulwa as the Accounting Officer of the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives as per the president’s directive,” Nakyoobe’s letter reads in part.

Early this month, Ggoobi had recommended the suspension of Ssali as the Accounting Officer, a directive the trade minister Francis Mwebesa implemented. 

At the time, Ggoobi said removing Ssali from office was intended to allow other state actors to institute and conduct investigations into allegations of misappropriation of the funds at the trade ministry.

After her removal, Ssali was replaced by Under Secretary Oyo Andima as directed by Ggoobi.

“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 of my technical people to kick start the process of implementing the recommendation of parliament and it is what we did,” Ggoobi said.