KAMPALA – Ms Hellen Nanteza Kawesa has been appointed interim Director of Communications and Public Relations at Parliament, replacing Mr Chris Obore who has sent on forced leave last week.
The appointment of Ms Kawesa, who is the current Deputy Director of Communications and Public Relations, was announced by the Deputy Clerk to Parliament in charge of Corporate Affairs, Mr Henry Waiswa, in a communication to all staff of the communication department.
“This is to inform you (all CPA staff) that the Director Communication and Public Affairs has taken his accumulated leave,” the communication reads in part.
“During his (Obore) absence I have been instructed to be in charge of the department assisted by the two Assistant Directors. During the interim, the spokesperson of Parliament will be Ms. Hellen Kawesa assisted by Ms. Ranny Ismail,” it added.
The communication is copied to Speaker Rebecca Kadaga, Clerk to Parliament Jane Kibirige, the Deputy Clerk Parliamentary Affairs and Acting General Counsel to Parliament Pius Perry Biribonwoha.
Last Wednesday, Ms Kibirige, the Clerk of Parliament, wrote to Obore, noting that “I have been directed to inform you to take your accumulated leave with immediate effect.”
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.
