Clerk to Parliament tips new staff on discipline, innovativeness

The Clerk to Parliament, Adolf Mwesige Kasaija, has tipped new Parliament staff to observe a high sense of discipline, decorum and innovativeness during their service.

Mwesige urged the new staff, who on Wednesday, 8 December 2021 commenced their three-day induction and orientation to at all times observe Parliament’s core values that emphasizes discipline, integrity and mutual respect among others.

“First, allow me to welcome and congratulate you upon your successful appointment. Whereas you will be required to contribute to the core functions of Parliament, you are expected to do so in compliance with the regulations and Standing Orders which govern us,” Mwesige said.

“Parliament is the pinnacle of discipline and we do not employ people who are fraudsters, liars and dishonest. So we expect you to be very disciplined and honest. Have mutual respect for your fellow staff and supervisors and even your juniors.”

The Clerk to Parliament implored the new staff to be humble and courteous while executing their duties in and outside the precincts of Parliament.

“This is a house of representatives of the people. So you must have respect for even other people who visit Parliament. Serve them with courteousness and decorum,” he said.

Mwesige also tipped the new staff on professionalism and innovativeness, saying creativity will help in value addition and career growth.

“Be as innovative as possible. Find work to do even if you have not been assigned. Don’t just sit in the office; go to the library and read a book or enroll for a Masters course online,” Mwesige said, before warning the new staff against doing things in isolation. He called upon them to work as a team saying, “Nobody has a monopoly of ideas.”

At least 65 staff have joined the Parliamentary Service in the last two months. The new staff include: Information officers, protocol officers, ICT officers, policy analysts, liaison officers, assistant secretaries to the Commission, front desk officers among others.

According to the Director Human Resource, Jackson Kumakech, the purpose of inducting new staff is to acquaint and assimilate them with the culture of the institution, the “dos and don’ts” and the nitty-gritty of Parliament for efficiency and effective performance of the staff.

The Deputy Clerk, Parliamentary Affairs, Paul G. Wabwire who administered the Official Oath and Oath of Secrecy to the new staff beseeched them to exercise high level of confidentiality especially in the modern era of social media and new technologies.