While Guterres is not responsible for the current misery around the world, he has noticeably been low-key compared to some of his predecessors COMMENT | SIMON ADAMS | In his farewell address to the United Nations General Assembly, António Guterres reminisced about his time as secretary general. In his words, …
Read More »Sudan: A litmus test for the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
Why Sudan’s war demands more than expressions of concern COMMENT | HASSAN SHIRE | As the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) convenes its 89th ordinary session scheduled for October 12-21, 2026, Sudan’s war demands more than expressions of concern; it demands decisive action. More than …
Read More »Olara Otunnu’s long road to the UN’s top job
From Kampala to New York, Islamabad, Riyadh, Paris and Moscow, Otunnu has turned his late campaign into a diplomatic roadshow COVER STORY | RONALD MUSOKE | At 76, Olara Otunnu has embarked on an extraordinary diplomatic odyssey, travelling from capital to capital with former Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, …
Read More »Delegates walk out in protest as Netanyahu defends Israel at UN
UNITED NATIONS | Xinhua | Scores of delegates walked out of the United Nations General Assembly hall in protest as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the podium to address the general debate of the 81st session. Netanyahu used his speech to defend Israel’s military actions in Gaza and elsewhere …
Read More »Olara Otunnu gains ground in second UN Secretary-General straw poll
Kampala, Uganda | URN | Uganda’s candidate for United Nations Secretary-General, Ambassador Olara Otunnu, has improved his standing in the second informal Security Council straw poll, increasing his “encouraged” votes from two to five, although he remains some distance from the leading candidates in the race. The second-round results, received …
Read More »Otunnu impresses, discusses UN reform, conflict resolution and AI
ANALYSIS | URN | Uganda’s candidate for United Nations Secretary-General, Ambassador Olara Otunnu, has called for sweeping reforms of the world body, stronger intervention in armed conflicts and greater efforts to ensure emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence benefit all of humanity. Otunnu made the case for his candidacy on …
Read More »Why Otunnu is UN’s best bet for this moment
COMMENT | CRISPIN KAHERU | Anyone who watched Olara Otunnu face the UN General Assembly in this week’s interactive dialogue saw something different in modern diplomacy. He answered hard questions without notes, without hedging, and without losing his composure, meeting probing queries from ambassadors with clarity and, occasionally, his characteristic …
Read More »The Otunnu formula comes full circle
The Ugandan who helped shape the UN’s succession game now wants to win it Kampala, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE | There is a delicious piece of irony in Olara Otunnu’s surprising bid to become the next Secretary-General of the United Nations. The Ugandan diplomat is now preparing to campaign …
Read More »Olara Otunnu: Uganda’s 30-year-late gamble for UN top job
After three decades of waiting, Uganda has finally put its weight behind the man it once might have backed when his moment was at its brightest COVERY STORY | RONALD MUSOKE | On Saturday, Aug. 8, Olara Otunnu boarded a plane to the United States, headed for New York …
Read More »Otunnu says rift with Museveni persists despite backing for UN top job
Kampala, Uganda | URN | Olara Otunnu, Uganda’s candidate for United Nations Secretary-General, has acknowledged that his long-standing disagreements with President Yoweri Museveni remain unresolved, even as Museveni’s government throws its weight behind his campaign. Otunnu, who made his strongest bid for the UN’s top job in 1996 but lacked …
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The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price