Foreign Minister Adonia Ayebare, has announced that the country’s candidate for Secretary-General, Dr Olara Otunnu, is set to begin a critical phase of his global campaign with high-level engagements in New York.
In an update shared on Saturday, Ayebare said Otunnu is travelling to the United States alongside former Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda, who is leading the campaign team.
The delegation is expected to hold meetings with UN member state representatives ahead of formal interactive dialogues scheduled later this month.
“Happy to announce that Dr Olara Otunnu, Uganda's candidate for United Nations Secretary General… [is] en route to New York to meet delegations and engage in interactive dialogue with both the UN General Assembly on 19 August and the UN Security Council on 20 August,” Ayebare stated.
The engagements are part of the United Nations’ formal selection process, where candidates present their vision and respond to questions from member states.
The dialogues offer an opportunity for contenders to outline priorities and build diplomatic support before the decisive stages led by the UN Security Council.
Ayebare also acknowledged logistical support from the United States mission in Kampala, noting that the delegation had received assistance in securing travel documentation.
“I thank the US Embassy in Uganda for the assistance rendered on visas,” he added.
Otunnu, a seasoned diplomat and former UN Under-Secretary-General, was recently nominated by Uganda to contest for the top UN job, placing him among a competitive field of candidates seeking to succeed current Secretary-General António Guterres.
His candidacy revives Uganda’s presence in global diplomatic contests and signals Kampala’s intent to play a more visible role in multilateral leadership.
The upcoming New York meetings are therefore seen as a pivotal moment in shaping Otunnu’s campaign, as he seeks to convince both major powers and smaller states of his suitability to lead the United Nations.