Uganda has officially nominated Ambassador Olara Otunnu as its candidate for the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations, putting forward one of the country’s most accomplished diplomats to lead the global organization.
The announcement was made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release dated 26 July 2026, confirming that the Government of Uganda has submitted Otunnu’s candidature for consideration by UN member states.
In its statement, the government described Otunnu as a distinguished Ugandan statesman and international civil servant with more than four decades of experience in diplomacy, government, academia and peacebuilding.
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. During his tenure, he played a key role in elevating the protection of children affected by war onto the UN Security Council’s agenda and helped establish monitoring and compliance mechanisms that continue to guide the UN’s work in the field.
His diplomatic career also includes serving as Uganda’s 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 now well-known informal straw polling process used in selecting UN Secretaries-General, often referred to as the “Otunnu Formula.”
At home, Otunnu served as Uganda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs between 1985 and 1986 and was a member of the National Consultative Council during the country’s transition following the fall of Idi Amin’s regime. He later led the International Peace Academy now the International Peace Institute and has taught at several international academic institutions, including Oxford and Harvard-affiliated programs.
The government also highlighted his peacebuilding work in northern Uganda through the Roco Paco initiative alongside Chief Justice Emeritus Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, describing it as part of his continued commitment to reconciliation and community healing.
Uganda’s nomination comes as the race to replace current UN Secretary-General António Guterres gathers momentum ahead of the end of his second term on 31 December 2026. Otunnu becomes one of several officially declared candidates seeking the world’s highest diplomatic office, with Security Council straw polls expected to shape the contest before a final recommendation is made to the General Assembly.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it is confident that Otunnu’s extensive international experience, spanning the UN Secretariat, the Security Council, national government, academia and grassroots peacebuilding, makes him well suited to lead the United Nations during what it described as a critical period in global affairs.