Olara Otunnu outlines vision to lead UN in New York dialogue

Veteran diplomat and former Under-Secretary-General Ambassador Olara Otunnu will today, August 19, 2026, take center stage at the United Nations General Assembly in New York to pitch his candidacy to become the next UN Secretary-General. 

Participating in a mandatory informal interactive dialogue, the 75-year-old Ugandan statesman will outline his platform before UN Member States and civil society representatives as the race to succeed António Guterres enters a critical phase. 

Nominated by the Ugandan government on July 24, Otunnu is one of eight global contenders vying for the top post. His campaign enjoys strong backing from President Yoweri Museveni, who recently dispatched a diplomatic delegation led by former Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda to mobilize international support across key capitals. 

According to his vision statement, Otunnu’s pitch centers on ushering in an “age of hope and faith” by revitalizing the UN’s moral authority, reforming bloated bureaucracy, strengthening international peace and security, and restructuring development finance. He will also field questions on multilateral diplomacy, institutional governance, climate action, and overseeing artificial intelligence. 

Otunnu brings over four decades of high-level diplomatic experience to the contest. A former president of the UPC political party in Uganda, his extensive international pedigree includes serving as Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the UN, President of the UN Security Council, President of the International Peace Institute, and UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict. 

The interactive dialogue is mandated by General Assembly Resolution 79/327 to ensure transparency and inclusivity in electing the UN chief. Following today’s session and a subsequent appearance before the Security Council tomorrow, the 15-member Security Council will conduct straw polls before formally recommending a candidate to the General Assembly for appointment to a five-year term under Article 97 of the UN Charter.