The Government of Uganda has officially put forward Ambassador Olara Otunnu as its nominee for the United Nations Secretary-General position. The announcement was made via a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday, July 26, 2026.
Extensive UN and Diplomatic Experience
Ambassador Otunnu brings over 40 years of experience in diplomacy, international civil service, academia, and civil society. His notable roles within the UN include serving as Under-Secretary-General and the first Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict from 1998 to 2005. In this capacity, he advanced the protection of children affected by war, establishing monitoring mechanisms that remain in use today under Security Council Resolution 1612 (2005).
Earlier in his career, Otunnu was Uganda’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN between 1980 and 1985. During this period, he chaired the UN Security Council and introduced the straw-balloting method for electing the Secretary-General, now known as the "Otunnu Formula." This approach has been adopted in all subsequent Secretary-General selections.
National Leadership and Peacebuilding Contributions
Domestically, Otunnu served as Uganda’s Foreign Minister from 1985 to 1986 and was part of the National Consultative Council during the transitional government after Idi Amin’s regime. From 1990 to 1998, he led the International Peace Academy (now the International Peace Institute) as its president.
He has also contributed to academia through teaching roles at Albany Law School, American University in Paris, and the Institut Français des Relations Internationales. His peace and human rights efforts have earned him prestigious awards including the Sydney Peace Prize (2005), German Africa Prize (2002), and Harvard Law School Alumni Association Award (2007).
More recently, Otunnu has co-led Roco Paco, a community peacebuilding initiative in northern Uganda, aimed at supporting reconciliation after decades of conflict.
Credentials and Appeal for Support
Otunnu holds a Bachelor’s degree in Jurisprudence from Oxford University and a Master of Laws from Harvard Law School. He is fluent in English, French, and Luo.
With the current UN Secretary-General António Guterres set to conclude his term on December 31, 2026, Uganda emphasizes Otunnu’s broad expertise across UN bodies, national governance, and grassroots peace efforts as vital for steering the organisation through complex global challenges.
The Ugandan government has urged all UN Member States to rally behind Otunnu’s candidacy. The nomination was formally submitted by Permanent Secretary Bagire Vincent Waiswa on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
