Uganda has officially put forward Olara Otunnu as a candidate to become the next Secretary-General of the United Nations. The announcement marks the entry of the seventh contender in the global race to lead the international body.
Otunnu, 75, is a seasoned diplomat and politician who served as the UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict from 1997 to 2005 under former Secretary-General Kofi Annan. He also held the position of Uganda's foreign minister briefly and was the country’s Permanent Representative to the UN.
In addition to his diplomatic roles, Otunnu was the opposition presidential candidate for the Uganda People's Congress in the 2011 elections, challenging the long-standing president Yoweri Museveni.
Current Candidates and Selection Process
- Alongside Otunnu, six other candidates are vying for the top UN post: Michelle Bachelet (Chile), Maria Fernanda Espinosa (Ecuador), Rafael Grossi (Argentina), Rebeca Grynspan (Costa Rica), Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett (Guyana), and Macky Sall (Senegal).
- The contenders recently participated in a televised debate at the UN General Assembly Hall in New York.
- The UN Security Council will conduct a series of secret ballots starting July 30 to narrow down the candidates. A nominee must obtain at least nine votes without a veto from any of the five permanent Security Council members: the United States, United Kingdom, China, France, and Russia.
- Following selection by the Security Council, the candidate will be formally appointed by the UN General Assembly and is expected to assume office on January 1, 2027, succeeding Antonio Guterres.
