Speaker Oboth, Tayebwa Rally OACPS Support for Olara Otunnu’s UN Secretary-General Campaign

Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oboth-Oboth presents a symbolic Ugandan souvenir featuring the country's map framed by Ankole cow horns to OACPS Secretary-General Moussa Saleh Batraki during his courtesy visit to Parliament.

Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oboth-Oboth and Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa have appealed to the Secretary-General of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), Moussa Saleh Batraki, to rally member states behind Uganda’s candidate, Olara Otunnu, in the race for the position of United Nations Secretary-General.

The appeal was made on Thursday during a courtesy meeting at Parliament after Batraki paid a visit to Speaker Oboth. Batraki was accompanied by Deputy Speaker Tayebwa, who also serves as President of the OACPS Parliamentary Assembly and Co-President of the OACPS–European Union Joint Parliamentary Assembly.

Otunnu, a member of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), was recently endorsed by President Yoweri Museveni as Uganda’s candidate for the UN’s top position. It will be his second attempt at securing the office.

Speaker Oboth said Otunnu possesses the experience, diplomatic skills and calm leadership needed to lead the United Nations, describing him as a statesman with extensive expertise in international affairs and global governance.

He added that Otunnu has played a significant role in establishing, guiding and strengthening international institutions and has contributed to advancing cooperation among African, Caribbean and Pacific countries.

Beyond Otunnu’s candidature, the meeting also focused on Uganda’s growing role within the OACPS, including the possibility of the country hosting the OACPS–European Union Joint Parliamentary Assembly later this year.

The annual assembly brings together parliamentarians from Africa, the Caribbean, the Pacific and the European Union to strengthen dialogue, promote parliamentary diplomacy and enhance cooperation on issues of mutual interest.

Deputy Speaker Tayebwa reiterated Uganda’s interest in hosting the OACPS headquarters, saying President Museveni had made considerable efforts to secure the organisation’s headquarters for Uganda despite stiff competition from other member states.

He said relocating the headquarters from Brussels, Belgium, would strengthen the organisation’s independence and better position it to achieve its objectives of promoting sustainable development, eradicating poverty and deepening trade and economic cooperation between OACPS member states and the European Union.

Speaker Oboth reaffirmed Parliament’s commitment to international engagement, saying Uganda remains proud of its growing influence on the global parliamentary stage.

For his part, Batraki commended Uganda for ratifying the Samoa Agreement, describing the move as a demonstration of the country’s commitment to the OACPS. He also praised Uganda’s leadership within the organisation and welcomed reforms aimed at strengthening the OACPS and deepening engagement with the European Parliament.

The Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) comprises 79 member countries, including Uganda, Angola, Kenya, South Africa, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Samoa and Fiji, among others.