The Ministry of Trade Permanent Secretary, Ms. Geraldine Ssali has been reinstated as the Accounting Officer.
Ms. Ssali was reinstated on Thursday through a letter written by the Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet, Lucy Nakyobe Mbonye.
“A letter has come from the Head of Public Service re-instating Ms. Geraldine Ssali as the Accounting Officer, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives,” said a source at the Ministry.
The Permanent Secretary saved her Ministry billions of shillings in annual rent when she decided to renovate the permanent government building housing the Ministry of Trade, Industries and Cooperatives.
Ms. Ssali’s wisdom was acknowledged and praised by the Ministry of Finance Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury (PSST), Ramathan Ggoobi.
“Given that renovation of the existing government offices at Farmer’s House is more cost-effective in the long run, pursuant to Section 14, Subsection 7 of the Public Finance Management Regulation of 2016, this is therefore to authorize you to change your work plan to enable you to utilize the above funds for renovation of the Ministry premises as requested,” Ggoobi reasoned.
Surprisingly, Parliament accused Ms. Ssali of diverting the money for rent in Shs8bn a year. Parliament went ahead and unfairly recommended that Ms. Ssali be stripped off her Accounting Officer role.
The PSST, who authorized and consequently part of the veriment process, also went ahead and removed Ms. Ssali as the Accounting Officer.
Aware of the noble process and the financial acumen exhibited by Ms. Ssali, the Head of Public Service decided to reinstate the latter.