Otunnu (on the mic) meeting Museveni on Monday.
Makerere University Associate Professor Philip Kasaija Apuuli says Uganda’s Olara Otunnu still has a chance at the UN secretary-general race despite missing a town hall on July 23, 2026.
Associate Professor Philip Kasaija Apuuli of Makerere University has said Uganda’s Olara Otunnu still has a chance at the UN secretary-general seat despite missing the town hall on July 23, 2026.
Speaking on UBC TV last week, Kasaija said the former Uganda diplomat still has to win over key powers before the final decision in November. ”He still has a chance because he still has to convince the Security Council, despite missing the town hall,” said Kasaija.
Kasaija, a lecturer of diplomacy in the Department of Political Science at Makerere, said Otunnu must also persuade the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. ”Between now and november when the final decision is to be taken. He still has a chance. He has to convince the P5,” added Kasaija.
Hopefully, he added, ”he doesn’t get a vito from the P5,” He noted that even past UN secretary-general candidates faced setbacks and still went on to win. ”But even the Koffi Hanan’s got a a discouraging vote at some point but did not stop them from becoming the SG of the UN,” argued Kasaija.
Kasaija also dismissed fears that Senegal’s candidate Sally had a stronger hand than Otunnu, saying Sally does not have Senegal’s backing and is not the African Union’s favorite.
According to Kasaija, Sally lives in Morocco and was nominated by Burundi. ”He fell out with the government of senegal. He is not the favorite candidate of the AU,” said Kasaija.
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