Helen Nanteza Kaweesa has been appointed the interim Director of Communications and Public Relations at the Parliament of Uganda, Helen Nanteza who has been the deputy has replaced her former boss Chris Obore who was forced to leave last week.
The development is contained in a loose minute generated by the Deputy Clerk to Parliament in charge of Corporate Affairs, these changes left Mr. Waiswa Henry, sent to all staff of communication department.
The internal communication, obtained by msnewsint, indicated that Mr. Obore, who was on Friday last week forced out of Parliament, has taken his “accumulated leave”.
“This is to inform you all CPA staff that the Director Communication and Public Affairs has taken his accumulated leave,” said part of the communication. Waiswa says he was instructed by unnamed official to take charge of the department but that the activities will be carried out by the two deputy directors.
“During his absence I have been instructed to be in charge of the department assisted by the two Assistant Directors,” added the loose minute. “During the interim, the Spokesperson of Parliament will be Ms. Hellen Nanteza Kaweesa assisted by Ms. Ranny Ismail,” said the memo.
The communication copied to Speaker Rebecca Kadaga; Clerk to Parliament, Jane Kibirige, the Deputy Clerk Parliamentary Affairs and Acting General Counsel to Parliament, Pius Perry Biribonwoha, instructed all CPA staff to attend to a meeting probably to start a new chapter, on Monday.
On Friday last week Sergeant at Arms Department, which is in charge of Parliament premises, changed the locks of Obore’s office. The changing of the lock according to verified information came a day after the Clerk to Parliament, Jane Kibirige wrote to Obore to go for accumulated leave of 140 days.
We also understand Obore’s lawyers replied to the Clerk challenging the decision saying it is against the Public Service Standing Orders to give a public servant leave when he or she has not applied for it.
Mr. Obore’s lawyers argued that a public servant who doesn’t apply for a leave in a given calendar year forfeits it. In April Obore was ordered to vacate office after a letter from the Inspector General of Government found out that he was irregularly recruited by Parliamentary Commission in 2015.
