New leadership takes charge as judicial officers SACCO targets growth and financial inclusion

The Uganda Judicial Officers Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisation (UJO-SACCO) has ushered in a new leadership team led by Mary Kaitesi Kisakye, as the cooperative positions itself for expanded growth, stronger member participation and increased financial empowerment for judicial officers.

Lady Justice Kisakye was elected Chairperson during the SACCO’s Elective Annual General Meeting held in Kampala, taking over the reins of an institution that has steadily grown into a key source of savings, affordable credit and investment opportunities for Uganda’s judicial officers.

Her election comes at a time when SACCOs are increasingly being viewed as critical vehicles for mobilising domestic savings and promoting financial inclusion among professionals.

“We will definitely take this SACCO to greater heights,” Lady Justice Kisakye told members after her election, pledging to build on the gains achieved by the outgoing leadership and strengthen services for members.

She will be supported by a newly elected Executive Committee comprising Alex Karocho Mushabe as Vice Chairperson, Timothy Lumunye as Treasurer and Jessica Chemeri as Secretary, alongside representatives from different categories of judicial officers.

Strong Financial Performance

The leadership transition comes against the backdrop of improving financial performance by the SACCO.

Outgoing Chairperson Boniface Wamala reported that membership increased from 338 in 2024 to 351 members by the close of 2025, reflecting growing confidence in the cooperative among judicial officers.

The SACCO also registered strong growth in lending activity, with its loan portfolio rising from UGX 1.84 billion to UGX 2.259 billion during the period under review.

Growth was also recorded in share capital, member savings and total assets, signalling a strengthening balance sheet and improved capacity to support members’ financial needs.

For members, the positive performance translated into direct financial benefits. Justice Wamala announced a 10 percent annual interest payment on savings and recommended a dividend of UGX 5,000 per share following a surplus recorded during the financial year.

Improved loan recoveries, largely attributed to the introduction of standing orders, also helped strengthen the SACCO’s financial position.

Untapped Potential

Despite the encouraging performance, leaders acknowledged that the SACCO still faces challenges that could constrain its growth if not addressed.

Justice Wamala noted that participation in the Special Savers Scheme remains low, while some members continue to save below their potential despite having stable incomes.

The SACCO has also faced delayed subscription payments and loan repayment challenges linked to cancelled or unfunded standing orders.

“The SACCO’s potential remains largely underutilised,” he observed, urging members to embrace the cooperative spirit through active participation and disciplined saving.

The challenge of member engagement was also highlighted by Geoffrey Kiryabwire, who was re-elected Chairperson of the Supervisory Committee.

According to Justice Kiryabwire, only between 100 and 120 members actively participate in SACCO activities despite total membership standing at 351.

“You cannot have cooperation without cooperators,” he remarked, emphasizing that stronger member involvement will be critical to the SACCO’s future success.

Learning from Regional Success Stories

Justice Kiryabwire challenged members to adopt a long-term investment mindset and draw lessons from successful cooperative models in the region.

He pointed to Sheria SACCO in Kenya as an example of how judicial officers can build a large and sustainable financial institution through consistent saving and collective investment.

The comparison highlights the growing importance of SACCOs as vehicles for wealth creation among professional groups, particularly in an era of rising living costs and increasing demand for affordable financing.

Financial experts note that SACCOs with strong member participation often outperform traditional savings mechanisms because they combine savings mobilisation with access to credit and investment opportunities.

Women Encouraged to Invest

The AGM also heard calls for greater participation by women in savings and investment initiatives.

Olive Kazaarwe Mukwaya encouraged judicial officers, especially women, to embrace saving through the SACCO as a pathway to long-term financial security.

Drawing from her personal experience, she said disciplined saving had enabled her to appreciate the value of long-term financial planning and wealth accumulation.

Her remarks resonate with broader efforts to improve financial literacy and investment culture among professionals, particularly women, who remain underrepresented in many formal investment structures.

The Future

For the new leadership, the immediate task will be to increase membership participation, deepen savings mobilisation and identify new investment opportunities capable of generating sustainable returns for members.

As Uganda continues to promote SACCOs as engines of financial inclusion and economic empowerment, UJO-SACCO’s next phase of growth could serve as a model for other professional associations seeking to build financial resilience among their members.

With a stronger asset base, growing membership and renewed leadership, the judicial officers’ cooperative now faces the challenge—and opportunity—of transforming its untapped potential into long-term financial prosperity for its members.