POLICE SACCO AXE! Long-Serving Staff Thrown Out as Exodus Overhauls Management… Department Heads, Drivers, Cleaners, Records Officers Among Casualties
A major shake-up has swept through the Uganda Police Exodus SACCO, leaving dozens of employees—including long-serving department heads and junior staff—without jobs after management carried out a sweeping restructuring aimed at streamlining operations and restoring confidence in the police-owned financial institution.
The exercise has seen nearly 30 employees dropped after failing to secure fresh contracts under a competitive recruitment process, ending the careers of some officers who had served the SACCO for between 15 and 19 years since its establishment in 2007.
The restructuring was approved last month by the Exodus SACCO Management Board, chaired by Senior Commissioner of Police (SCP) Wilson Omoding, following prolonged operational and management challenges that had increasingly frustrated members.
Among the issues cited were complaints over restricted access to members’ savings, delays in processing withdrawals and the need to improve efficiency across the institution.
EVERYONE WAS TOLD TO REAPPLY
In one of the boldest reforms ever undertaken at the SACCO, the Board declared all staff positions vacant, effectively terminating existing contracts and requiring every employee to compete afresh for their own jobs.
An independent Human Resource firm was competitively procured to handle the recruitment exercise.
Applications were invited from both existing employees and other qualified candidates before interviews were conducted.
According to sources at the SACCO headquarters in Naguru, the shortlist of successful applicants was pinned on the noticeboard on Thursday.
Most of those selected were reportedly new recruits, leaving many familiar faces out in the cold.
Among those who failed to make the cut were several Heads of Department, records officers, cleaners, drivers and other junior staff.
Exodus SACCO employs more than 100 workers spread across 12 departments.
While many employees are serving police officers seconded to the SACCO, technical and support staff—including cleaners, cooks, attendants and drivers—are recruited from outside the Uganda Police Force.
Most employees serve on renewable two-year contracts.
Unlike previous years, when contracts were routinely renewed, management this time opted for a fully competitive recruitment process.
WHY THEY WERE DROPPED
Sources familiar with the exercise say management wanted to inject fresh energy into the institution after years of operational challenges.
A senior police officer told Red Pepper that several factors informed the Board’s decision.
“A lot of things led to people being dropped. Some had poor disciplinary records, while others could not adapt to new technology and existing policies. That is why management took such a firm approach,” the officer said.
According to the source, concerns over indiscipline, poor customer service, resistance to technological change and inability to embrace new operational systems weighed heavily during the recruitment exercise.
The reforms are also intended to position the SACCO for increased digitisation and improved service delivery.
CHAOS AFTER SHORTLIST
The release of the shortlist triggered emotional scenes at the SACCO headquarters.
Another officer said staff had spent days working under uncertainty because nobody knew whether they would survive the restructuring.
When the results were finally pinned on the noticeboard, emotions boiled over.
According to the source, some unsuccessful applicants reportedly tore down the shortlist, others openly shouted in frustration, while some quietly collected their belongings and walked away.
“Before the shortlist was released, work had virtually stagnated because no one knew whether they would keep their jobs.
“Since Thursday, most offices, including procurement, finance, accounts, logistics, risk, ICT, fleet and records, have been affected because many staff were not retained.
“For police officers, it means returning to normal deployment and lower earnings. Here they earned better and accessed affordable loans.
“Those who are not police officers will have to look for other jobs,” the officer said.
BRIBERY CLAIMS DENIED
As the restructuring unfolded, allegations circulated on social media claiming some Exodus SACCO staff had demanded hefty bribes from members seeking loans and that the accusations had triggered the mass dismissals.
However, the Uganda Police Force has strongly dismissed those claims.
In a statement issued through the Police Office of Public Relations, management described the allegations as false and malicious.
According to the statement, obtaining a loan from Exodus SACCO follows a well-established and transparent process governed by the institution’s policies and procedures.
“At no stage is bribery required or tolerated,” the statement said.
Management further clarified that the staffing changes had nothing to do with disciplinary investigations, corruption allegations or directives from the Inspector General of Police.
Instead, Management said the changes resulted entirely from the expiry of staff contracts and the Board’s decision to subject all positions to open competition as part of wider institutional reforms.
The statement stressed that the recruitment exercise was professionally conducted by an independent Human Resource firm and that only applicants who met the required qualifications and standards were retained.
Those who failed to meet the criteria were simply not re-engaged.
“It is therefore completely false… that the Inspector General of Police dismissed employees of Exodus SACCO. The staffing changes resulted solely from the SACCO’s internal human resource processes and had nothing to do with disciplinary action, corruption investigations or directives from the Inspector General of Police,” management stated.
‘MEMBERS’ MONEY IS SAFE’
Management also sought to calm fears among members following widespread speculation on social media.
“We wish to reassure all Exodus SACCO members that their savings remain safe and secure.
“The SACCO continues to operate normally, and all services remain available.
“There is no corruption, embezzlement or financial crisis within the institution.
OCHAYA CALLS FOR PEACE
The restructuring comes only weeks after Deputy Inspector General of Police AIGP James Ochaya urged Exodus SACCO leaders and staff to resolve internal disagreements through dialogue instead of rushing to court.
Ochaya warned that public disputes damage both the image of the Uganda Police Force and Exodus SACCO while undermining confidence among members.
He also challenged the SACCO leadership to accelerate digital transformation by embracing artificial intelligence, mobile money and other digital innovations so that police officers deployed in remote parts of the country can conveniently access their savings and financial services without travelling to Kampala.
ABOUT EXODUS SACCO
Established on September 19, 2007, Uganda Police Exodus SACCO was created to mobilise savings from police officers and provide affordable credit to officers and their families.
Headquartered in Naguru, the institution has grown into one of Uganda’s largest security sector savings cooperatives, boasting more than 43,000 members and assets valued at over Shs96 billion.
The latest restructuring now marks one of the most significant management overhauls in the SACCO’s nearly two-decade history as leaders seek to rebuild efficiency, improve service delivery and restore confidence among tens of thousands of serving and retired police officers.
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