By Our Reporter
As part of the post-2016 Uganda, the Museveni NRM government planned to have a robust Public Relations Unit to prepare a very outspoken legislature in the face of public anger that was expected as a result of some of the unpopular legislation that was being planned in the 2016-2021 period. These included amendments to scrap the Presidential age limit. It was expected there would be public outrage which would be overcome by a versatile PR head for the 10th Parliament. Stung by Rebecca Kadaga’s lukewarmness and unpredictability, the key Museveni strategists also planned elevate Jacob Oulanyah to the position of Speaker.
They considered him daring and predictable enough to do business with unlike Kadaga who they faulted for being absent whenever controversial enactments had to come through. The plan was to deploy her elsewhere to pave way for Oulanyah. Dependable as he was, Oulanyah would not work alone hence the need to deploy tested fighters to play supportive and complementary roles including in the PR department. As early as 2012, restructuring by Parliamentary Commission (PC) had resulted into creation of the Directorate of Communications & Public Affairs (CPA).
Available information shows that the CPA position remained unfilled because Hellen Kawesa Nanteza who had been heading PR had for long been assessed and found wanting. In March 2013, the PC rejected a recommendation for her promotion from Manager to Director CPA on grounds that she had failed to defend the image of Parliament and increase its visibility. She was faulted for not being assertive and for lacking knowledge on financial management procedures. She had previously been dropped from Contracts Committee membership over similar concerns. That’s when the decision to either externally advertise or head-hunt was taken.
IN COMES OBORE
Investigative documents obtained off the IGG file indicate that external advertising was tried first with a D/CPA job advert running in the New Vision of Monday 22nd December 2014. This advert attracted more than 20 applicants including Gilbert Kadilo, Jimmy Otim, Denis Natukunda Kabunga, Bernard Eceru, Emmanuel Eka, Muti Cirus, Kefa Atibuni, Peter Okello Jabweri, Aloysius Louis Mubiru, UCC’s Isaac Kalembe, NEMA’s Naome Namara Karekaho, UNBS’ Godwin Bonge Muhwezi, Anita Nshakira, Jonan Wilson Akwong, Radio One’s Elvis Kalema, Reuben Twinomujuni, Simon Katende, ERA’s John Julius Wandera, Michael Otai Ocilaje and the Mwenda-backed Simon Peter Kasyate Turyahikayo who was rejected for lack of relevant qualifications.
Parliamentary records indicate that none of these passed the eligibility criteria for the job. They mostly failed for lacking the 10-year experience and the master’s degree “in a related field.” Consequently, on 23rd March 2015 the HR sub committee of the PC resorted to head-hunting. This was later ratified by the entire PC membership during their 17th April 2015 meeting that was chaired by Speaker Kadaga herself.
Those in attendance included Oulanyah, Gen Moses Ali, LoP Roland Mugume, Clerk Jane Kibirige, her deputy Paul Wabwire, Okello Obabaru, minute secretary Benson Oniz Masereka and the four backbencher Commissioners Rose Seninde, Okumu Reagan, Rose Akol and William Nokrach. The Kadaga meeting authorized Nokrach and other members of the HR sub committee of the PC to use the head-hunting approach to identify candidates for possible recruitment of the D/CPA. Besides Nokrach, other members included Akol, Seninde, Wafula Ogutu (LoP), Jane Kibirige, PRAU President Henry Rugambwa and Ag HR Director Dison Okumu.
The Nokrach committee contacted some key people in government and private sector to nominate seasoned media personalities that they considered suitable for the task at hand. In the end 5 names emerged including Onapito Ekomoloit, Chris Ariko Obore, Daniel Kalinaki, Charles Mwanguhya Mpagi and ACME’s Dr. Peter Mwesigye. On being contacted by Jane Kibirige (wrote to each one of them on 2nd June 2015), three of them declined and its only Obore and Mwanguhya that showed interest and accepted being subjected to vigorous interview process. A news feature story in the Kampala news website crime24.com gives insight on how each of these was nominated.
The website’s news report indicates that IGP Gen Kale Kayihura, who was then very powerful and strong ally of both Kadaga and First Family, is the one who marketed Obore as most suitable for the job. It was him who caused Kadaga, who originally loathed Obore for being a nosy journalist, to abandon her strong objections to the man from Bukedea. He told Kadaga that overcoming Amama Mbabazi (whose Presidential ambitions Obore had already been very critical of) was more important than the unfounded apprehension she was having of the investigative journalist about whom she knew very little. Obore became more favored ahead of Mwanguhya when Wafula Ogutu (famously respected during PC meetings because of his founding role in Monitor newspaper) spoke to Kadaga seconding the Kayihura nomination.
Mulengera news separately established that Kalinaki (who was based in Nairobi) missed out because some of the demands he made were considered unreasonable and improper. He for instance required an air ticket to come for the interviews but the leadership of Parliament was advised not to heed that demand because it would have resulted into anomalous expenditure besides discrediting the entire recruitment process.
SHINES AT INTERVIEWS
In the end, Obore was able to overcome strong contenders like Mwanguhya and Simon Kasyate for whom Andrew Mwenda (using his deep State House connections) was relentlessly lobbying for. Considering him fatally unsuitable, the Nokrach committee omitted Kasyate and proceeded to interview Mwanguhya and Obore. Seven officials (Nokrach, Wafula, Seninde, Akol, Jane Kibirige, Henry Rugamba and Dison Okumu) scored the two candidates and Obore won at all levels of interview.
Documents obtained off the IGG file indicate that each of the candidate was scored by the 7 officials out of 50. That Nokrach gave Obore 39; Wafula 40; Seninde 36.5; Akol 43; Kibirige 39; Rugamba 36 and Dison Okumu 39. The same scorers respectively rated Mwanguhya as follows: 27, 33, 33, 35.5, 39, 34 and 33. The overall percentage score for Obore was 77.86% and 67% for Mwanguhya. For the mean average (out of 50), Obore had 38.93 against Mwanguhya’s 33.5! In their August 2015 report, the Nokrach committee members concluded (in favor of Obore) as follows: “The committee noted that both candidates scored above the pass mark of 60% and therefore qualify for the job. However, based on the ranking of the scores, the committee hereby recommends to the Parliamentary Commission that Mr. Chris Obore Ariko, who is ranked 1st, should be offered appointment to the post of Director Corporate & Public Affairs in the Parliamentary Service with effect from date of assumption of duty.” The two-page report was signed by Nokrach and Jane Kibirige who ironically is now the same person writing letters forcing Obore out on grounds that he was recruited irregularly without the required qualifications. For comments, call, text or whatsapp us on 0703164755.
