Politics 24 August 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Olara Otunnu Launches Global Campaign for UN Secretary-General Position
Uganda's nominee for UN Secretary-General, Olara Otunnu, has commenced a series of international visits to key member states to garner support for his candidacy. His campaign aims to secure endorsements from permanent members of the UN Security Council and non-permanent members. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/otunnu-starts-capital-to-capital-campaign-rounds-for-un-job-5568752
Olara Otunnu, nominated by Uganda for the position of United Nations Secretary-General, has embarked on an intensive campaign tour, beginning in Washington D.C. This strategic move is designed to engage with senior officials from influential member states, crucial for securing the necessary votes.
Sources indicate that Otunnu’s itinerary in the US capital includes meetings with State Department officials, specifically those overseeing international organization affairs. Following his engagements in Washington, his campaign is set to extend to Paris, Moscow, London, and Beijing – the capitals of the other permanent members of the UN Security Council, each holding significant veto power.
Further stops are planned in the capitals of ten non-permanent members of the Security Council, including Pakistan, Greece, Panama, Denmark, and Somalia, whose terms conclude at the end of 2026, as well as Colombia, Latvia, Liberia, DR Congo, and Bahrain, who will serve through 2027.
Otunnu, who previously served as the UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, entered the race on July 24. He joins a competitive field that includes former President of Senegal Macky Sall and Guyana’s UN Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett, among others. In recent straw polls, Otunnu showed a notable increase in support, securing five “encourage” votes, five “discourage” votes, and five “no opinion” ballots in the second round.
During a recent address in New York, Otunnu emphasized the urgency of UN reform, stating that “Reform is no longer an optional choice. It is an imperative.” He warned of significant risks to the organization should meaningful change not be implemented.
The election for the new UN Secretary-General is anticipated in November, with the transition expected by December 31, coinciding with the end of the current Secretary-General António Guterres’s tenure. A candidate needs nine affirmative votes from the Security Council to be recommended to the General Assembly for final election by all 193 member states.