Govt May Recall Kaijuka

BY Yunusu AbbeyTHE Government may recall Richard Kaijuka from the World Bank Headquarters in Washington where he has been representing 23 African countries.High-level sources said the decision, reportedly effected on President Yoweri Museveni’s directive early this week, follows the “overwhelming evidence the US Justice Department has gathered against Kaijuka.”On Tuesday, Gerald Ssendaula, the finance minister, reportedly wrote to the World Bank in Washington requesting that Kaijuka should return home.“In the confidential letter, Ssendaula said Kaijuka did not comply with the investigation requirements,” a source said. “He (Kaijuka) was also blamed for failure to produce his son (Steven Kagyezi Kaijuka) he claimed the alleged US $10,000 bribe was payment for private work he (Kagyezi) did for a European construction company,” said the source.But when The New Vision called Ssendaula on Tuesday night, he could neither deny nor confirm the reports.Kaijuka, 58, is presently an Alternate Executive Director at the World Bank in charge of 23 English and Portuguese-speaking African countries. He was scheduled to become full executive director in October. He was previously energy minister and MP Sheema North, Bushenyi district.“It was the government that seconded Kaijuka to the World Bank where he represents Africa One constituency. If he has done something wrong which is not in the interest of the 23 countries he represents, we don’t wait for the World Bank to tell us. We can take action ourselves,” Ssendaula said.“Otherwise, if there is anything to say, I can either call a press conference or issue a statement as I have always done,” Ssendaula added.In a July 26 meeting, Museveni reportedly questioned Kaijuka over the US$10,000 deposited on his London bank account in 1999.Museveni reportedly quizzed Kaijuka in the presence of the IGG, Jotham Tumwesigye, and the Attorney General, Francis Ayume.Kaijuka was quoted as having asked the government to defend him since the bank probe unit and the IGG had cleared him.But Tumwesigye said yesterday he was not aware of the new development. “I have not yet received or seen any communication to that effect (recalling Kaijuka). As far as I am concerned, we have not yet finalised our investigations,” the IGG said.“The Americans say they have assembled a lot of incriminating evidence that can even lead to Kaijuka’s prosecution. It seems they want the Uganda government to take action against him,” a source said. “Since it was the Uganda government that seconded him for the job, it has the right to recall or ask the World Bank to relieve him of his duties if something goes wrong,” the source added. Reports said neither the US Justice Department nor the IGG’s office in Kampala have recorded Kagyezi’s statement over the allegations.Tumwesigye said his office had not yet interviewed Kagyezi although he was among those on the list. Kagyezi is believed to be studying at an Australian university.Kagyezi, who used to manage the family’s Equator Flower Farm at Bunono off Entebbe road, said in a letter faxed to The New Vision on July 19, that the US$10,000 was his (Kagyezi’s).The flower farm, now called Rosebud, has since been sold to Sudhir Ruparelia.Ends