Ugandan selected for UN post despite reservations
Publish date: 17 June 2014
Issue Number: 581
Diary: IBA Legalbrief Africa
Category: Africa Focus
The UN General Assembly has chosen Uganda's Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa as its next president, despite the concerns of rights advocates and Western officials over the country's law criminalising homos exuality, which took effect four months ago.
The New York Times reports that Kutesa was selected by acclamation, without a vote. The one-year post is largely ceremonial but carries significance because the president leads General Assembly meetings. Kutesa said nothing about g ay rights in his acceptance speech but vowed to promote gender equality and women's rights. Full report in The New York Times
