Past Presidents

69th Session: Sam Kahamba Kutesa

Portrait of Mr. Sam Kahamba Kutesa, President of the United Nations General Assembly’s 69th session. UN Photo/Mark Garten

Sam Kahamba Kutesa was elected President of the United Nations General Assembly’s 69th session on 11 June 2014. At the time of his election, he was serving as Uganda’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, a post he held since 2005.

Mr. Sam Kahamba Kutesa presided the General Assembly’s 69th session from 16 September 2014 to 14 September 2015.

Also on 11 June 2014, the General Assembly elected 21 Vice-Presidents for the 69th session:

Priorities

Delivering on and Implementing a Transformative Post-2015 Development Agenda

On June 11, 2014 the President of the 69th Session of the General Assembly, in his Acceptance Speech, chose the theme: “Delivering on and implementing a Transformative Post-2015 Development Agenda,” for the 69th session.

The President of the General Assembly also outlined seven priority areas for the session namely:

  • the post-2015 development agenda;
  • combatting climate change;
  • advancing gender equality and empowerment of women;
  • strengthening cooperation between the UN and regional organizations;
  • peaceful settlement of disputes and peacebuilding;
  • revitalization of the General Assembly and reform of the Security Council;
  • enhancing the role of the UN Alliance of Civilizations.

High-level Event and Thematic Debates

By its resolution 67/297, the General Assembly recognized “the value of holding interactive, inclusive thematic debates on current issues of critical importance to the international community” and “invited the President of the General assembly to continue this practice.

The President will convene high-level thematic debates and events that will focus on the theme and the priorities for the 69th session. The main objective of the high-level thematic debates and event is to enable Member States and stakeholders to have in -depth exchange of views, in an interactive and participatory manner.

These meetings will contribute towards the formulation of the post-2015 development agenda and the mobilization of means for its implementation, while fully recognizing the mandated intergovernmental processes.

Calendar:

Format

The High-level thematic debates and Event will consist of an opening segment, two interactive, multi-stakeholder panel discussions, and a closing segment.

The outcome for each of the debates and event will be a President’s summary.

Member States will be invited to participate at the highest possible level, as well as Observers, UN Agencies, and other stakeholders.

Statements and Messages

September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
June 2014

Letters

September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014

Events

September 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014

Team

  • H.E. Mr. Sam Kahamba Kutesa, President PDF
  • H.E. Mr. Arthur Kafeero, Chef de Cabinet
  • Mr. John Leonard Mugerwa, Deputy Chef de Cabinet (Sustainable Development)
  • Ms. Suvi Seppalainen, Adviser (Post 2015 Development Agenda)
  • Ms. Aqeelah Akbar, Senior Adviser (Gender Equality, Empowerment of Women)
  • Mr. Sipho Seakamela, Senior Adviser (Africa, Cooperation between UN and Regional Organizations)
  • Mr. Robert B. Mugimba, Adviser (UN Security Council Reform, General Assembly Revitalization, First Committee)
  • Mr. Muharrem Turgut, Adviser (Mediation, Alliance of Civilizations)
  • Mr. Steen Malthe Hansen, Senior Adviser (Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding)
  • Mr. Steven Nkayivu Ssenabulya, Special Assistant to the PGA
  • Ms. Tala Dowlatshahi, Senior Adviser (Partnerships, Outreach)
  • Ms. Li Wen, Adviser (Second Committee)
  • Ms. Juliana Gaspar Ruas, Adviser (Second Committee, Financing for Development)
  • Ms. Melita Gabric, Senior Adviser (Third Committee)
  • Ms. Santa Mary Laker Kinyera, Adviser (Third Committee)
  • Mr. Mateus Pedro Luemba, Adviser (Fourth Committee)
  • Mr. Abdelghani Merabet, Senior Adviser (Fifth Committee, Climate Change)
  • Mr. Noel Kaganda, Adviser (Sixth Committee)
  • Ms. Ahood Alzaabi, Adviser (Humanitarian Issues, Health, Culture)
  • Ms. Veronica Reeves, Speechwriter
  • Mr. Jean Victor Nkolo, Spokesperson
  • Ms. Fanny Langella, Deputy Spokesperson, Deputy Speechwriter
  • Ms. Aurélie Kahn-Jochimek, Public Information Assistant (Digital Communications)
  • Ms. Annet Kabuye, Personal Assistant to the President
  • Ms. Alicia Santomauro, Administrative Assistant to the President
  • Ms. Evelyne Ojwang, Administrative Assistant to the President

Multimedia

11 June 2014: 93rd plenary meeting of the General Assembly - Election of the President of the General Assembly for the 69th session.

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