Otunnu takes UN bid to New York, seeks global support
Uganda's foreign affairs minister, Adonia Ayebare, announced on Saturday (August 8) that Otunnu was accompanied by former prime minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, who is heading the former diplomat's campaign.
Dr Olara Otunnu. (File photo)
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Uganda’s former diplomat, Dr Olara Otunnu, is in New York City to sell his candidature for the United Nations secretary-general to the global organisation's principal organs.
Uganda's foreign affairs minister, Adonia Ayebare, announced on Saturday (August 8) that Otunnu was accompanied by former prime minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, who is heading the former diplomat's campaign.
By the time Ayebare posted the latest development on his X account, Otunnu and Rugunda were on the way to New York, where the UN has its headquarters.
He said Otunnu will meet delegations and engage in interactive dialogue with both the UN General Assembly on August 19 and the organisation's Security Council the following day.
Ayebare thanked the US embassy in Kampala for the assistance rendered to them when they applied for visas for the duo.
Assurance given
“We are making arrangements to see to it that he, first of all, gets engagements with the president of the UN Security Council as well as the president of the General of Assembly as fast as possible because the other candidates have already appeared before them. We have been assured that our candidate will also get an opportunity to do the same,” he said.
Beyond that, Bagiire said the Ugandan government will conduct some shuttle diplomacy to meet people that matter in this race that has attracted six other candidates, including two former presidents.
He noted that under the UN Charter, the General Assembly elects the secretary-general on the recommendation of the Security Council.
“If a member of the Security Council vetoes a candidature, it means it can’t progress, and therefore we need to make sure that as fast as possible we engage with the five permanent members and we have started that.”
Bagiire also noted that in Otunnu, Uganda has a very good candidate who knows the UN system quite well.
Otunnu eager
“I’m not at the UN headquarters in New York to address members of the Security Council because of the complications which have been created by the outbreak of Ebola in our region of Africa and so to enter the US there are formalities that are rigorous; we are working on it but I have not able to get there as faster as I wanted,” he said.
He, however, said he hoped and trusted that all five nations that are permanently represented on the Security Council would judge him on his experience and track record of service because “I am not talking theory; I have actually done this not twice or twice”.
Other candidates
The other six candidates standing to replace the current secretary-general, António Guterres, who is due to end his term of office at the end of the year, include former president of Chile Michelle Bachelet, former president of the UN General Assembly Maria Fernanda Espinosa from Ecuador, and Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Grossi from Argentina.
Others are former Secretary-General of UN Trade and Development Rebeca Grynspan from Costa Rica, Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the UN Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett, and former Senegalese President Macky Sall.
The new UN chief is set to take office on January 1, 2027.
Only two Africans have previously occupied this seat - Boutros Boutros-Ghali and Kofi Annan.