By Aggrey Baba
Uganda’s plan to expand the United Nations Regional Service Centre in Entebbe will strengthen, rather than undermine, the country’s bid for the UN’s top leadership position, ICT Minister Kasule Lumumba has said.
Lumumba made the clarification on Tuesday while responding to a question about whether the additional land and expanded operations could affect Uganda’s candidate for UN Secretary-General, Dr Olara Otunnu.
Olara Otunnu, a former UN official, is being presented by Uganda as its candidate for the position.
The question arose after Kasule reported that Cabinet approved an additional six acres of government land for the UN Regional Service Centre, which is expected to assume more administrative and support responsibilities within the international organization.
Asked whether the expansion could affect Otunnu’s candidature, Lumumba dismissed the concern, arguing that the move demonstrates the country’s commitment to the UN.
“No. The expansion doesn’t affect him,” she said.
The minister maintained that the decision should instead be viewed as evidence of stronger relations between Uganda and the UN.
“Actually, the expansion is supposed to augment his candidature,” she added.
The centre provides financial, human resource, administrative, logistics and ICT support to UN operations in the region. It has already taken over functions previously handled by the Kuwait Joint Support Office, with the transfer taking effect on July 1, 2026.
Cabinet’s approval of more land is intended to create room for the centre’s growing responsibilities as the UN reorganizes its operations to reduce costs and improve efficiency.
The minister said the expansion would further strengthen the country’s partnership with the organization.
However, she did not suggest that the additional land would automatically improve Olara Otunnu’s chances of securing the top UN job. Her argument was that the expansion demonstrates the government’s commitment to hosting and supporting UN operations.
The candidature and the Entebbe expansion are therefore separate developments, although government sees the latter as a positive reflection of Uganda’s relationship with the United Nations.
The UN Secretary-General position is a major international leadership role, making the support and diplomatic engagement of member states important elements of the selection process.
Kasule Lumumba’s remarks signal that government intends to present the expanding UN presence in Entebbe as part of the country’s broader engagement with the organization as it advances its candidate. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
