Kampala, Uganda: The Government of Uganda has officially nominated veteran diplomat and statesman Ambassador Olara Otunnu for the position of United Nations Secretary-General, citing his more than four decades of leadership in international diplomacy, peacebuilding and public service.
The announcement was made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press statement issued on Saturday, July 26, 2026, confirming that Uganda has formally submitted Otunnu’s candidature for the UN’s top leadership position.
Government says Otunnu’s extensive experience within the United Nations system, national government, academia and international peacebuilding makes him well positioned to lead the global body at a time of growing geopolitical and humanitarian challenges.
Otunnu previously served as United Nations Under-Secretary-General and became the first Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict between 1998 and 2005, where he elevated the protection of children affected by war to the agenda of the UN Security Council.
The government noted that during his tenure, Otunnu spearheaded the development of the monitoring and compliance framework established under UN Security Council Resolution 1612, which remains one of the organization’s key mechanisms for protecting children in conflict zones.
Before joining the UN Secretariat, Otunnu served as Uganda’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 1980 to 1985. During Uganda’s presidency of the UN Security Council in December 1981, he introduced the straw-balloting procedure used in selecting the Secretary-General, a process that later became widely known as the “Otunnu Formula” and continues to guide the election of UN chiefs.
At the national level, Otunnu served as Uganda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs between 1985 and 1986 and was also a member of the Uganda National Consultative Council during the country’s transition following the fall of the Idi Amin regime.
His international career further includes serving as President of the International Peace Academy, now the International Peace Institute, from 1990 to 1998, alongside academic appointments at Albany Law School, the American University in Paris and the Institut Français des Relations Internationales.
The Ministry also highlighted Otunnu’s contribution to peacebuilding in Uganda through Roco Paco, a community-based initiative he co-leads with Chief Justice Emeritus Alfonse Chigamoy Owiny-Dollo to promote healing and reconciliation in northern Uganda following decades of armed conflict.
Otunnu has received several international honours for his contribution to peace, diplomacy and human rights, including the Sydney Peace Prize (2005), the German Africa Prize (2002) and the Harvard Law School Alumni Association Award (2007). He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Jurisprudence from Oxford University, a Master of Laws from Harvard Law School, and is fluent in English, French and Luo.
The government expressed confidence that Otunnu’s experience across the UN Secretariat, Security Council, national government, academia and grassroots peacebuilding uniquely qualifies him to lead the United Nations.
The current UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, is expected to conclude his second term on December 31, 2026. Uganda has called on all United Nations member states to support Ambassador Otunnu’s candidature.
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