Uganda’s electricity distribution company, UMEME is set to expel over 1,000 workers in its cash office across the country over their reported corruption, nonperformance and absentism from duty.

UMEME says the termination of profitless staff members will pave way for UMEME to concentrate on its core business of distributing power. Selestino Birungi, the UMEME’s chief finance officer says the company will close all its cash offices but the good affected staff members who are less than 70 will be re-deployed in other sections of the company.

Selestino says UMEME is to copy a leaf from other utility companies like Uganda Revenue Authority and National Water and Sewerage Corporation that fully converted its cash systems into cashless systems.

UMEME last week signed a contract with Ezeemoney, a new online payment solution company where the company customers will be able to make payments using electronic money.

UMEME is sacking its corrupt staff members and cash offices at a time when the company is connect ing its customers onto pre-paid meters as the company rolls out its $440 million expansion drive upto 2018 when it hopes to fully connect all its customers from postpaid meters to pre-paid meters.

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