Otunnu Says He Has Forgiven Government Over Passport Row That Left Him Stateless

Olara Otunnu says he has forgiven the Ugandan government for leaving him stateless after it allegedly refused to renew his passport, as Uganda now backs his bid for UN Secretary-General.

Kampala, Uganda | Former United Nations Under-Secretary-General Olara Otunnu says he has forgiven the Ugandan government over what he describes as years of mistreatment that left him stateless after authorities allegedly declined to renew his Ugandan passport.

Otunnu, once one of President Yoweri Museveni’s fiercest political critics, said he has chosen to leave the past behind and focus on what he calls a shared national mission following Uganda’s endorsement of his candidature for the position of United Nations Secretary-General.

His remarks come days after President Museveni publicly backed his bid to succeed António Guterres as the next UN Secretary-General, signalling a significant improvement in relations between the veteran diplomat and the government he had opposed for decades.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Uganda Radio Network (URN), Otunnu said he no longer harbours bitterness over the events that left him without Ugandan citizenship for several years.

“For many, many years, I was stateless, not by my choice, but because the Ugandan government had declined to renew my passport. But all that is history. It is true, it is factual, but I don’t dwell on that,” Otunnu said, recalling that he became a citizen of Côte d’Ivoire in 2005.

He added that he forgave those responsible long before launching his campaign for the UN’s top job.

“I personally have gone through the process, the soul-searching, the reflection, and forgiven what may have been done to me by whoever,” he said.

Although he declined to discuss any conversations he may have had with President Museveni regarding their past differences, Otunnu said Ugandans should instead focus on the country’s opportunity to produce the next Secretary-General of the United Nations.

“I just want us to focus on the present, on this development, which is very positive for the country. It doesn’t change me. It doesn’t change President Museveni, but it brings us together on a common national project that brings pride and honour to Uganda,” he said.

Otunnu said his candidature should be viewed as a national achievement rather than a personal ambition, noting that Uganda played a central role in shaping his education, values and leadership.

He also argued that his long career within the United Nations gives him a distinct advantage over the other candidates. During his service, he served as President of the UN Security Council, Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights, President of the International Peace Academy, and the UN’s first Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict.

Commenting on ongoing global crises, including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, the conflict in Sudan, and instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Otunnu said the UN Secretary-General must remain actively engaged with world powers while pursuing diplomatic solutions.

“The Secretary-General should be engaging the big powers, listening, probing to see if there are opportunities to move forward. He should suggest innovative solutions when appropriate because even the major powers can accept proposals that do not undermine their interests,” he said.

He maintained that the UN Secretary-General’s foremost responsibility is to prevent conflict, help end wars and safeguard international peace and security.

While acknowledging Africa’s growing influence within the United Nations, Otunnu stressed that whoever occupies the office must serve the interests of the entire international community rather than any single region.

He added that stronger leadership on peace, development, human rights and emerging global issues such as artificial intelligence would benefit Africa as well as the rest of the world.

Otunnu is among seven candidates seeking to replace António Guterres, whose second term as UN Secretary-General ends next year.

The other contenders are Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica, former Argentine foreign minister and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, former President of the UN General Assembly María Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador, former Senegalese President Macky Sall, and Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett of Guyana.

The 76-year-old diplomat served as the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict from 1998 to 2005. Before that, he was Uganda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs between 1985 and 1986. He returned to Uganda in 2009 and later served as president of the opposition Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) from 2010 to 2015.

Otunnu’s renewed engagement with the Ugandan government, culminating in President Museveni’s endorsement of his UN bid, marks one of the country’s most notable political reconciliations in recent years and strengthens Uganda’s efforts to rally behind one of its most accomplished diplomats for the world’s highest diplomatic office.