Parliament’s Director of Communications and Public Affairs Chris Obore has been forced out of office, Monday Times Understands
Jane Kibirige, the Clerk of Parliament wrote to Obore on Wednesday, noting that “I have been directed to inform you to take your accumulated leave with immediate effect.”
The letter was copied to the Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga, Deputy Speaker, Jacob Oulanyah, Deputy Clerk Corporate Affairs, Henry Waiswa, and Deputy Clerk and also the Directors for Human Resource and Finance.
One of the sources, who preferred anonymity says that Kibirige also directed Obore that even when the 140 days of his accumulated leave elapse, he will only return to office if he is called back by Parliament.
She also instructed Obore to handover office to the Deputy Clerk Corporate Affairs, Waiswa.
Obore is said to have received the letter on Wednesday and forwarded it to his lawyers, Kampala Associated Advocates.
On Thursday, Obore’s lawyers responded to Kibirige’s letter noting that the Public Service Standing Orders stipulate that a public servant must apply for leave within a given calendar year and failure to do so, he or she has to forfeit the days for leave not taken.
The Public Service Standing Orders provide that leave cannot be accumulated from one calendar year to another unless the public officer’s request to carry forward the leave was approved.
The Standing Orders provide that a public officer must have submitted a request to carry forward annual leave to the relevant offices for approval by 15th December.
In Obore’s case, the lawyers noted that this did not happen and therefore, it is illegal to send him on accumulated leave that he did not apply for by 15th December 2018.
On Friday Obore found the locks of his office had been changed by officers attached to the office of the Seargent – At- Arms.
One of the lawyers at Kampala Associated Advocates, Jet John Tumwebaze said that he will respond to on the matter on Saturday.
In April, the High Court ruled that the termination of Obore’s contract should be halted until the main petition is disposed of.
Obore’s troubles started in March when Kibirige notified Obore that the Inspectorate of Government had conducted investigations noting that his recruitment as the director communication and public affairs was founded on an illegality because it contravened the Parliamentary Service (Staff) Regulations, 2001.
However, Obore through his lawyers, Kampala Associated Advocates applied for an injunction restraining the Parliamentary Commission from implementing the Clerk’s decision to terminate his employment until the matter is determined.
Obore was recruited on August 19, 2015 by the Parliamentary Service.
