Former UN Under-Secretary-General Ambassador Olara Otunnu says he is ready to lead the United Nations and bring back the moral weight of the Secretary-General’s office.
Speaking to journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kampala on Wednesday, shortly after Uganda officially fronted his candidature for UN Secretary-General, Otunnu outlined a reform agenda centered on peace, human rights, and sustainable development.
He said his campaign is built on strengthening multilateralism and making the UN more accountable to the people it was created to serve.
“The Secretary-General does not have armies, money, or the mandate of an elected president. What the office has is moral authority,” Otunnu stated.
“That authority comes from the UN Charter, from member states, and from the people of the world. It has been weakened, but it can be restored. The Secretary-General must use it boldly to lead.”
Otunnu listed UN reform as a top priority if elected. He said the world body must become more representative, efficient, and results-driven.
He backed calls to reform the UN Security Council to reflect current global realities.
“The conversation about making the Security Council more representative of today’s world must go on until we get a result,” he said.
He also criticized inefficiencies within the UN bureaucracy, saying the organization must be restructured to deliver better.
“The United Nations must reflect the hopes of its members and the people. It has to be efficient, effective and responsive to the challenges of our time,” Otunnu added.
