Global Fund Chair Chrispus Kiyonga Will Not Seek Re-Election

Uganda's National Political Commissar Dr. Chrispus Kiyonga, who is chair of the board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, announced on Tuesday that he will not seek re-election for the position, the Kampala New Vision reports. In a fax sent to the board shortly before it was set to convene yesterday for a three-day session in Geneva, Kiyonga said, "I will not offer myself for reappointment as chairperson of the board," according to the New Vision. Kiyonga also said that there was "a critical matter in my country that requires my presence" (New Vision, 1/30). In his opening remarks at the meeting, Global Fund Executive Director Richard Feachem said, "Because of the Global Fund, I have many new friends, none more important to me than Chrispus Kiyonga. I have come to respect him enormously. I want to pay tribute to his leadership of the Global Fund from its very earliest days. He is a great man with great dedication to global development and the people of Africa. I will miss his wise counsel as Chair of the Board, as I am sure we all will" (Speech text, 1/29).