Kaijuka Resigns

THE embattled Richard Kaijuka (right), at the centre of a US$10,000 bribery scandal, has resigned his high-profile post at the World Bank headquarters in Washington DC, reports Yunusu Abbey . Kaijuka, 58, an Alternate Executive Director, has already tendered his resignation letter to Mr. Cheikh Ibrahim Fall, the bank’s vice-president and corporate secretary.Commonly known as Sir Rich, Kaijuka was representing 23 English- and Portuguese-speaking African nations and was due to become executive director in October.The letter dated August 26, 2002, reads: “Pursuant to my previous discussions with you and my subsequent consultations with my constituents (including the Government of Uganda), I have decided NOT to offer myself as a candidate for election as Executive Director for Africa 1 Constituency.“I will, therefore, relinquish my position as Alternate Executive Director for Africa Group 1 and Office of the World Bank Group with effect from October 31, 2002 when my term expires.”“I will contact you to discuss the modalities regarding my separation of employment from the Bank Group at your earliest convenience,” he said.The letter, marked ‘Confidential For Hand Delivery,’ was copied to President Yoweri Museveni, finance minister Gerald Ssendaula, chairman of the Board and President of the World Bank Group and chairman of the Constituency-Africa Group One.Kaijuka’s abrupt resignation followed reports that Museveni early this week directed Ssendaula to recall him.Ssendaula reportedly wrote a confidential letter to Washington.“It’s now official. Kaijuka is no more. He has lost his lucrative job at the World Bank,” said a source.Speaking to The New Vision by telephone from Washington last evening, Kaijuka said, “Because this is not the end of the world, and because I was not born executive director, I have decided to take this action.”Kaijuka said, “I have achieved everything I have through hard work, honesty and integrity which is part of my record.”Kaijuka, a former energy minister and Sheema North MP, added, “I will not allow complicated regional and personal intrigue to stand in my way. I am more energised to embark on the next phase.”“I have discovered that our own local people do not fully understand the global working complexities and I have ended up a punching bag,” he said.Other sources said the Government was advised that the US Justice Department, which is investigating the Kaijuka case, found a lot of suspicious transactions.“For instance, the amount of money involved goes beyond the US$10,000 which was allegedly paid to his son (Steven Kagyezi Kaijuka now in Australia) for consultancy,” a source said.“The Government was advised that Kaijuka’s stay at the bank was no longer tenable,” said the source.Kaijuka’s problems started in June following reports that a Norwegian company, Viedekke, paid him a US$10,000 bribe in 1999 at a time it was lobbying to build Karuma Falls power station. The money was deposited on his London bank account but Kaijuka said it was his son’s (Kagyezi).Ends