Since the Members of Parliament decided to tell Ugandans that they want fuel guzzlers worth Shs 200 million and further, that they want their burial expenses footed at the expense of the taxpayer to the tune of Shs68 million, hostile tonnes have been written and said about our Parliament.
Perhaps, one can understand the fury with which Ugandans reacted to the news, given that Uganda is a low-developed country that can ill-afford seemingly wasteful voyages that seem to be destined for nowhere, but designed only to benefit a few.
But that said, in all the ensuing tirades that followed the two announcements, the one person who has been a victim of the wrath happens to be Chris Obore, the Communications Director of Parliament. Certainly, for those conversant with media practice, Obore is no stranger to prudent behavior, the hallmark of any journalist worth his/her salt.
With a rich background in both electronic and print media, Obore is a widely known Ugandan of good standing who, like any other person employed in the public sector, ekes out a living providing services that are supposed to impact positively on society as a whole.
Of course, most people were first endeared to Obore as he plied his trade in the media, where his record on matters national was undisputed.
It is against such a noble background that he first made the shortlist of a very competitive opening in the public sector and eventually emerged the best preferred person for the job, this notwithstanding his past.
It is imperative to note that employers are always on the lookout for those who are knowledgeable about the template workings and are intent at making their ventures better and as such have over the years set what has come to be known as ‘Terms of Reference’. It is these ToRs that prescribe the calibre of the sought employee, the nature of work he/she is to carry out, and the expectations of the employer.
So, in the case of Mr Obore, he satisfied his employer, the Parliament of Uganda, and that is how he got his job which, for all intent and purpose, is to ensure the image of Parliament is maintained appealingly to the populace.
Indeed, one would fault him if he failed in that endeavor! But alas, the populace has turned its guns against him, unwittingly seeming to suggest that he carries the proverbial ‘cross’ the MPs are supposed to carry.
Intriguingly however, we are quick to forget that we are the ones who elect these representatives, and so we carry an even bigger blame than that we want to apportion to Mr Obore.
Unfortunately, the wanton apportioning of blame if not checked, can derail the work ethic of a dedicated public servant like Mr Obore whose only ‘mistake’ seems to be the pursuit of satisfying the terms of his employment contract that entails service to the people of Uganda!
