Obore gets temporary relief as court blocks sacking

KAMPALA. The Director of Communication and Public Affairs at Parliament, Chris Ariko Obore has got a temporary relief after court temporarily blocked termination of his services.
Kampala High Court Judge Henrietta Wolayo on Wednesday issued an interim order halting the sacking of Mr Obore pending hearing and determination of the main case.
“Interim order is hereby issued to give time to the respondent to file a response in the main case,” ruled Justice Wolayo before extending the case to April 17 this year.
The judge’s decision followed submissions by lawyers, Augustine Idoot representing Mr Obore and Ms Sitina Cherotich (Parliamentary Commission) in which they asked court for an adjournment.
Ms Cherotich asked court for an adjournment reasoning that the person who was supposed to swear an affidavit was out of office.
Mr Obore whose employment tenure was terminated in a March 5 letter by Clerk to Parliament, Ms Jane Kibirige sued his employer challenging the decision.
According to the letter, Ms Kibirige cited a report which concludes that the recruitment of Mr Obore was founded on an illegality as it was in contravention of the Parliamentary Service (Staff) Regulations.
Mr Obore petitioned the court seeking an order to restrain the Parliamentary Commission, its agents and or servants from implementing a decision of the Clerk to Parliament which terminated his employment.
Through his lawyers, Mr Obore wants court to issue an order maintaining the status quo until the final determination of his case.
Court documents indicate that Mr Obore has since instituted a suit for prerogative reliefs to prevent the implementation of the directives of the Parliamentary Commission.
He alleges that the pending main case discloses important issues to the legality and propriety of the impugned decision which matters have a high chance of success.
“That in May 2015, I received a letter informing me that the Parliamentary Service Commission had expressed interest in filling the position of the Director, Communication and Public Affairs. By the said letter, I was informed that I had been identified as one of the potential candidates being considered by the Commission and I was invited for an interaction over the same,” says Mr Obore in a sworn statement.
He states that on August 19, 2015, the office of the Clerk to Parliament wrote to him communicating a decision in which a job was offered on probation which he accepted.
According to court documents, four years later while working in the same post, Mr Obore was served with a letter informing him of the findings of the Inspectorate of government and a termination decision by the Clerk to Parliament.
“That I know that prior to the decision by the Commission to terminate my service, I had never been accorded a right to defend myself before the parliament service commission or any relevant body,” states Mr Obore insisting that the authority to appoint, promote and exercise disciplinary control over a member of staff of the service is vested in the Parliamentary Commission.
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