KAMPALA, August 27, 2026 — National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine has thrown his support behind Uganda’s candidate for United Nations Secretary-General, Dr Olara Otunnu, while questioning the government’s decision to endorse his candidature after allegedly opposing his previous bid for the position.
In a statement, Bobi Wine praised Otunnu’s decades of international service, describing his record at the United Nations and his work on human rights and the protection of children affected by armed conflict as the kind of leadership the world needs.
“As a Ugandan, it fills me with pride to see an illustrious son of our nation carry a lifetime of global service, a fierce commitment to the vulnerable, and a deep passion for justice to the world stage,” Bobi Wine said.
He said Otunnu’s record had earned him respect among Ugandans who have followed his career at the United Nations.
“For years, many of us have followed with great respect, Ambassador Olara Otunnu’s incredible track record at the United Nations,” he said.
Bobi Wine particularly highlighted Otunnu’s work championing human rights and protecting children in armed conflict, arguing that such credentials are important at a time of multiple global crises.
“His work championing human rights and protecting children in armed conflict is exactly the kind of leadership the global community desperately needs right now,” he said.
Bobi’s endorsement will silence a section of his supporters online who have in the recent days attacked Otunnu. The two have a history, Otunnu played a part in Bobi Wine’s reconciliation with elders in Acholi following friction created after Bobi’s supporters protested former Speaker Jacob Oulanyah’s treatment abroad before his death.
Bobi Wine raises questions over Museveni’s position
While endorsing Otunnu, Bobi Wine also revisited the Ugandan government’s earlier opposition to his candidacy.
He alleged that the Museveni administration previously denied Otunnu an endorsement for the UN Secretary-General position.
Bobi Wine suggested that Otunnu’s leadership at the United Nations at the time could potentially have contributed to a more just international order.
“Perhaps if he had risen to that position at the time, the world would be fairer, more just, and more peaceful,” he said.
During his unveiling, Otunnu told UG DIPLOMAT that he will be a UN Secretary General for all.
Questions over current government support
Bobi Wine also acknowledged that some Ugandans are questioning why the government has now chosen to support Otunnu’s candidature.
“I hear some citizens who are raising tough questions about why the regime has suddenly changed its mind to endorse him now,” he said.
He described such scepticism as understandable, however, Bobi Wine said he trusted Otunnu’s character and integrity and expressed hope that the diplomat would maintain his commitment to human rights if he becomes Secretary-General.
“We can all bank on his long-term, proven integrity and hope that when he rises to become the world’s top diplomat, he will never turn a blind eye to the ongoing struggle for freedom in his own motherland,” he said.
Bobi Wine also noted that Otunnu has himself acknowledged challenges facing Uganda.
“As he has consistently acknowledged, Uganda faces dark spots that need fixing,” he said.
Praises Otunnu’s reform agenda
Beyond his record on human rights, Bobi Wine endorsed Otunnu’s vision for reforming the international system.
He said Otunnu’s commitment to genuine multilateral reform was particularly important in an international system that is often criticised for being dominated by the interests of powerful states.
“International institutions must evolve beyond mere arenas of superpower politics to become true instruments of equity, accountability, and shared prosperity for all nations,” Bobi Wine said.
The statement comes days after Otunnu completed a series of engagements in New York as part of Uganda’s campaign for the UN’s top diplomatic position.
Otunnu participated in an interactive dialogue with the General Assembly on August 19 before engaging the Security Council the following day.
During his General Assembly appearance, Otunnu called for stronger international action on conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine and Africa, saying the UN must address the root causes of conflicts to achieve lasting solutions.
He also called for reform of the Security Council, describing its structure as reflecting a “historic imbalance” that needs to be corrected.
Otunnu gains ground in second straw poll
The endorsement comes after Otunnu improved his position in the second informal UN Security Council straw poll held on August 21.
He received five “encourage”, five “discourage” and five “no opinion” votes, compared with two “encourage”, five “discourage” and eight “no opinion” votes in the first poll on July 30.
The result represented a gain of three “encourage” votes, suggesting increased support within the 15-member Council, although Otunnu remains behind the leading candidates.
Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett led the second poll with eight “encourage” votes, followed by Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan and Argentina’s Rafael Grossi, who each received seven.
The straw polls are informal and non-binding, with the eventual Secretary-General to be appointed by the General Assembly following a recommendation from the Security Council.
For Uganda, Otunnu’s candidature has increasingly become both a diplomatic campaign and a subject of domestic political debate, with his record, the government’s endorsement and the country’s human rights situation all forming part of the conversation around his bid.
Bobi Wine concluded his statement by expressing full support for Otunnu.
“Ambassador Otunnu has my full solidarity and prayers as he carries our collective aspirations for a fairer world to the global stage,” he said.
