Ugandan statesman Olará Otunnu joins race to succeed António Guterres as next UN secretary-general

A Ugandan statesman, Olará Otunnu, has entered the race to become the next secretary-general of the United Nations, The Washington Times reported on Aug. 10, naming him as the latest entrant in a widening field of candidates seeking to replace António Guterres at the end of this year.

According to the report, Otunnu’s bid places him among a group of at least seven contenders overall, with six other people also seeking the job, as the UN approaches the final stretch of the current secretary-general’s term.

Guterres is scheduled to leave office when his current term concludes later in 2026, leaving the UN to select a successor during a period in which major governments and international institutions typically intensify their engagement on leadership, diplomacy, and institutional priorities.

The Washington Times described Otunnu as a Ugandan statesman entering the secretary-general competition, underscoring that the race is not limited to a single region or political bloc and that additional candidates can still emerge as parties refine their preferences.

The entry also highlights the role of named individuals in shaping early diplomatic conversations around the UN’s top post, since the secretary-general’s job is central to day-to-day management of UN activities and to the organization’s public stance on global crises.

With multiple contenders now on the table, negotiations and consultations among member states are expected to remain fluid, particularly as candidates compete to demonstrate how they would manage the UN’s operations and represent member governments across different issue areas.

For Otunnu, the timing means his candidacy must be understood in the context of a late-year transition for the UN’s top leadership, with the contest unfolding while governments weigh potential successors to Guterres and as the UN prepares for continuity in its senior management during the handover period.