Permanent Secretary Ministry of Trade Faces Jail over Extortion at UNBS

The Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Geraldine Ssali may soon be arrested and prosecuted in courts of law after intelligence linked her to be heading extortion at Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), Spyreports has exclusively established.
According to our credible sources, her arrest comes after several complaints and investigations conducted by the office of Inspectorate of Government (IG).
According to our sources, on 4th July, the office of IGG wrote to her a letter concerning about the procurement process for the pre-Export verification of conformity (PVOC) service providers by Uganda National Bureau of Standards.
Insiders at UNBS reveal to us that the PS has been allegedly exerting undue influence on members of contracts and evaluation committees of UNBS on the ongoing procurement process for provision of pre- export verification of conformity services.
"This PS has got millions of shillings, from companies to offer them contract of PVOC services and she is now putting a lot of pressure on us to have them go through yet they don't qualify," says a source from UNBS procurement department.
The source further says the PS is in touch with Chairperson of UNBS Board one Charles Musekuura. "The pair has extorted money from service providers promising heavy deals," adds another source.
In a letter which IGG wrote to her which we got a copy, accuses her of extortion. "You PS and Mr Charles Musekuuru the chairperson of the UNBS Standards Council, were in addition to extortion of service providers and blackmailing of the UNBS accounting officer, misusing the office of Hon. Minister Francis Mwebesa to blackmail some companies that tendered bids and halt their participation in the aforementioned procurement process to favor your preferred service provider M/S QUISJ in abuse of office," reads part of IGG's letter to PS Ssali.
The letter further says the above offences are grave in nature involving the interference, Corruption and malpractice in the procurement process. "If the allegations are are found to be true, they could lead to prosecution for among others abuse of office, influence peddling, corruption and bribery of public officials, " States the letter.
IGG further assured her that section 26 of the PPDA Act, No1 of 2003 makes the procurement process an overall responsibility of the accounting officer of the procuring and Disposing entity.
"The purpose of this letter is to direct you with immediate effect, to desist from interfering with the abovementioned  procurement process and let the accounting officer perform his obligations under the law," says last part of the IGG's letter.

When we contacted Ms Kirabo Sylvia the head communication at UNBS, she says, "I can not comment on the matter which is before IG and PS Ministry of Trade. You can reach PS her self," she says.

Efforts to get a comment from PS Ministry of Trade Ms Ssali were futile as she couldn't pick our repeated calls. Even after sending her a text message, she could not respond.

In an interview with ED UNBS Mr Ebiru David he confirmed how they have been working under serious pressure from the pair. "These people have threatened to fire us from our offices if we don't implement what they want. Sometimes they are wrong and they want us to implement them,'" says Mr Ebiru. He added that they want protection from people like IGG in order to perform their duties within the law.